Importance of voting

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  • Importance of voting
    Importance of voting
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Early this week, the State Election Board issued a voter alert.

I first saw the alert in an email on my computer as I was working on stories for this week’s edition. I spotted it again a few minutes later when it came across on my cell phone.

When I saw it on the computer, I went ahead and read it because it had caught my attention enough to think what is going on now concerning the upcoming election.

State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax issued the alert so voters would be aware about some text message that had been sent last week telling someone their polling place had been changed and in fact it had not been changed at all.

How crazy is that? Whoever did it, must have little else to do or obviously has a specific purpose in trying to be deceitful.

Ziriax said the complaint was referred by election officials to law enforcement as it should have been.

Many voters are confused enough these days without them receiving messages trying to falsely inform them their polling place has been changed. In some years, this might really discourage voters from going to the polls.

However, I don’t think that’s the case this year. There’s significant voter interest out there as indicated by the number of new registrations since the first of this year and in recent months.

I would guess the voter who received the text message was interested enough to call up the State Election Board and report it.

The best method to verify voter information, I believe, is by calling the county election board.

In this area, it’s the Pottawatomie County Election Board at 405-273- 8376 and the number for the Lincoln County Election Board is 405-258-1349.

That’s the surest way I think to ensure you are receiving the most accurate information.

One of the freedoms we have and enjoy as American citizens is the right to vote. I was 21 years old before I could register to vote, though at 18 was required to sign up with the Selective Service System.

I have tried throughout the years since I could vote to take that right very seriously. There aren’t many elections, small or large, in which I haven’t voted.

That’s not to say that I haven’t missed some, but those are few and far between.

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 intimidation or 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.

As I said, voting is a privilege, and we as Americans should take it seriously.