For most of us, election season is the most annoying time of year. “If I have to hear or see one more negative attack ad…” Yes, it has gotten pretty ridiculous. But let’s not forget that people in Hong Kong are literally rioting and fighting right now for their right to vote, while most of us take ours for granted. It’s estimated that only 48-49% of Owensboroans will vote on November 4th.
We have been given the freedom to vote, and it came at a very high price. Sometimes it may seem our choice is to settle for the lesser of two evils, but not voting at all is a greater evil. Here in Owensboro we should especially understand that our votes do matter; there have been some pretty narrow margins in recent local elections.
This November 4th, let’s do the right thing and vote. If you want to do an even greater thing, take your child or another young person with you to the polls. They’re out of school anyway. What an awesome way to model our right to vote by letting them watch you cast your vote. They won’t remember all these negative ads, but they will remember that. A friendly poll worker might even give them their own little “I voted” sticker too.
Then, maybe voting won’t seem so scary, or strange, or out-of-date to them when they turn 18, and this next generation of Owensboro voters will beat our 49% turnout.
Just a word of caution when you go to the polls. The ballot this year is really big, so make sure to flip it over and fill out the front and the back. Also, everyone in Owensboro and Daviess County gets to vote for county commissioners.
For those of us who will be out of town on November 4th, an absentee voting booth his already in place at the courthouse.
