I voted today! Yup, I even got the cute little sticker. I didn't even have to wait in a line - I walked right in and right back out. But I have to admit, I am a little ashamed about something... I was an uneducated voter. Not in the presidential election. Oh no, unless you are living under a rock you have at least a working knowledge of the platforms that the presidential nominees are running on. No, I'm talking about the other elections. The elections for State Senate, or City Council, or School Board. I really didn't know much about those people at all. Sure, I recognized names on a few... but did I make the effort to understand who they are and what they stand for? No, not like I should have.
Why does this matter, you say? Well, simply put, the President has but a small effect on your life and mine. I will probably never meet him, the decisions he makes are intentionally broad and serving to the nation AS A WHOLE, not to the individual citizens. That is how a republic is intended to operate. On the other hand - county judges, school board representatives, city council members, and, to take it a step further, state congressional representatives and administrators - they are making the decisions that do directly affect you and me. This includes decisions about zoning, taxes, business regulations, parking restrictions, school curriculum, school budgets, library budgets, arts council budgets, police department budgets... the list goes on and on. How is it that so many of us walk into our polling place with so little knowledge about the candidates and referendums that REALLY matter to out daily lives?
I recently stumbled on www.vote411.org. It is a great place to understand more about local elections. But the Internet is a great resource and, if you can filter out the baloney, you can find the information that you need to make an educated choice.
And if you haven't already, get out there and vote!
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