Democracy takes a holiday.

The Nose needs your help.

He's tired of reading the opinions of academics. He's weary of the ponderings of pollsters. And he's exhausted with editorial-page exhortations.

The Nose wants to go to the source. Why didn't you vote?

If readers of the Nose represent the larger adult population in Oregon, less than a third of you filled out a ballot this election. (When you read that voter turnout was 45 percent, that's the share of registered voters. There are 700,000 eligible voters in this state who aren't even registered). The Nose wants to know why. Is it because:

Choosing between Ted and Bev was like picking between Mr. Tweedleski and Ms. Tweedlestein?

You were blinded by the mud that Republicans were slinging in their quest to get to the governor's office?

You're a registered independent and were locked out of most of the election anyway?

The WW endorsement issue was just too damn confusing?

You were too busy setting your TiVo for The Osbournes to take the time?

You are still fuming over the results in Florida and don't want to dignify the process by participating?

Compared to the threat of the next terrorist attack, the seeming incompetence of the FBI and the possibility that India and Pakistan may go nuclear, worrying about issues such as density, school funding and library hours seems like Nero's fiddling?

You are saving your firepower for the day the Nose announces his candidacy?

Your dog chewed up your ballot and ralphed it back out in a colorful melange of grass clippings, wood chips and Kleenex?

You are too cheap to buy a stamp?

You "vote" in other ways? You volunteer or contribute to charitable causes--exercises in citizenship that, to your mind, are far more meaningful than pencilling in a circle or punching a chad?

The type size on the ballot is just too small?

You are so content with the status quo that your decision not to vote was, in effect, a vote for maintaining the current course?

Not voting is one of the last remaining ways you can rebel against the system?

Although the Nose has his tongue planted in his nostril (sorry), these are not rhetorical questions. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, things were supposed to change. People supposedly rediscovered their patriotism. And while everyone seems to be willing to wave the flag, only one third of you could be troubled to fill out a ballot.

Like the Nose said, it doesn't make sense. Please help him sort it out by emailing him and letting him know why you didn't vote. He'll publish your most interesting responses--that is, provided anyone cares enough to send a reply.

WWeek 2015