Last weekend I received a piece of mail from my county election board. It was an application for absentee ballot. By filling out this application, it will allow the county election board to send me absentee ballots for all elections which I am eligible to participate in this calendar year (2023).
For at least the last couple of years, the election board has sent me this application. It makes it really easy to cast my ballot in any election that I am eligible to vote.
A few years ago prior to them sending me this application, I would go in January to the election board and sign up for this. They have made it one step easier.
There is an upcoming election Feb. 14 that area voters should be interested in enough to go vote. That is the date of the annual school elections.
In Lincoln County, there is a primary election on that date for the Prague school board Office No. 3 since four people have filed.
All eligible Lincoln County voters also can cast ballots on the proposition to renew the one cent county sales tax for five years and those in the Chandler School District have a bond issue to decide.
Not sure yet what if any school board elections in Pottawatomie County are set for Feb. 14.
One of the freedoms we have as American citizens is the right to vote. I was 21 years old before I could register to vote, although when I turned 18 I was required to sign up with the Selective Service System.
Even small elections like school board races are vitally important, though turnouts for those types are mostly dismal at best.
I have tried throughout the years since I could vote to take that right very seriously. There aren’t many elections, whether considered small or large, in which I haven’t voted.
The age allowing a person to register and vote has changed from 21 down to 18 and that is good I think. Not sure how many 18-year-olds vote or even sign up to, but I’m guessing the number increases between 18 and 21.
I believe in the right to vote and we are allowed to do so by secret ballot without fear of repercussion. That’s an important freedom to have.
It’s a privilege to cast my vote, so every time I have the opportunity I try and do so. There’s no excuse for me not to vote in all the elections where I have candidates to vote on or issues to decide.
State voting laws over the years have changed to make it easier for people interested enough to cast their votes.
As I said, voting is a privilege, and we as Americans should take it seriously.