Did you vote yet? Will you vote today? Since it looked like my husband would be out of town with work today, he and I voted early.
While voting is a right, it is also a duty, in my opinion. People have died to protect this right, so we owe to them to get out and vote, to make our voices heard, to play a role in how we are governed.
November 7, 2006, may be a turning point on many issues in this country, so make sure you have your say in these matters. Your vote does count, as long as you use it. Even if your candidate doesn’t win, the number of votes for certain people or on certain issues can shape policy.
If you haven’t voted yet, you can visit Vote USA to find a sample ballot for your state online (there is a note on the page that the servers may be slow due to high traffic, so please be patient).
You can also look up candidates or ballot initiatives to learn more about them if you need more information. Try Project Vote Smart for more on your candidates and how they stand on the issues (servers are likely to be slow here as well). You can also visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to find information on ballot initiatives and referendums by state.
If you don’t know when and where to vote, try the polling place locator available at Can I Vote.org. Just scroll down until you see it then find your state. This website is presented by the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Also, make sure you know what you need to bring with you, if anything, in order to vote. In many areas, you will need a photo ID or some way to prove your identity. This information is available in the pages mentioned above. You can also call your local polling place for further information.
Voting is considered a privilege and a right, but it is also our duty, so go ahead… get out there and let your voice be heard.