Our View
Never too late to register to vote

We as Americans enjoy more freedoms than just about any other place on the planet.

Yet far too many of us fail to exercise one of our most basic and possibly valuable rights, the right to vote in an open election.

It's disheartening to hear the talk every election year of the low voter turnout.

Is it easy to become disgusted with mud-slinging campaign ads? Sure it is. Do we wish there was more cooperation between the two major political parties for the good of our state and nation? Of course we do.

But neither of those reasons is a good excuse to not vote.

Perhaps the stickiest issue is what to do if you're unhappy with the (usually) two candidates running for a particular office. What do you do if you feel neither one is a good choice?

Again, it's no excuse to not show up at all.

Imagine what it might be like if three times as many people voted compared to normal turnouts. Would things be better? Maybe. Could things be worse? At this point, I don't really see how they could.

Would a viable third party convince you to get down to your local polling place? If so, work to help create one.

Is voting, unlikely as it seems, just too difficult or confusing? Then work to make the system better.

Elections are one of the few times where the people can wield, real, tangible power in this country. Voting is a responsibility, yes, but not voting is just giving up that power to help determine the future of this nation and state.

Maybe you've recently moved and just haven't gotten around to registering. It's easy to do. And with the fast pace of life these days, it can be easy to get caught up in other things and put off something like that. But don't think all is lost. You may have missed this election, but there's another one coming in two years. While it's on your mind now, go ahead and register, or update your registration.

And make a plan to vote the next opportunity you have. See you at the polls.

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