By Dawn Burleigh

Being a registered voter is a privilege many in this world do not experience.

It is also a duty, as a citizen, to make the time to cast one’s ballot for mayor, council members, school boards and bond issues.

It all starts at the local level. The people selected for the seats are the ones who live here as your neighbors and are seen in the grocery stores.

 

They are the ones picking up trash, fighting for a better community and are passionate about this place we all call home.

Early voting began on Monday.

It is also the day I spoke with a lady, who up until a couple of years ago, was not a registered voter. I overheard her telling someone they needed to go vote today.

It warmed my heart to hear her being involved in the community.

She did not say how to vote or for whom to vote, just to go vote.

Then, I asked the million dollar question – has she voted yet?

“Yes, ma’am! I was the first one in line.”

She was the first in line on the first day of early voting!

This unnamed person in just a couple of years went from not caring about local government to being first in line to vote. She is now actively involved in her local government.

In recent elections, we have seen a larger than normal number of voters at the polls. This is a trend we should continue to encourage and hope to see repeated during this election.