Dear Reader,
On November 3, Wisconsin voters will decide who represents them in Madison and Washington, and who sits on the school boards, county boards, and village councils that shape daily life in our communities. I hope every reader will take part.
The right to vote was not handed to us. Generations before us fought for it, marched for it, and in many cases died for it. Some of them were not allowed to cast a ballot because of their gender or the color of their skin. Others stood in long lines, answered unfair questions, or risked their jobs and safety to be counted. When we skip an election, we treat their sacrifice as something small. It was not.
We should also remember that millions of people around the world have no such choice. In many countries, elections are staged, results are decided in advance, and speaking against those in power can cost a person their freedom. Americans can disagree loudly, cast a ballot in private, and still go to work the next morning without fear. That is a privilege, and it stays strong only when citizens use it.
Local elections often come down to a few hundred votes, and sometimes fewer. The people elected this fall will decide how our roads are maintained, how our schools are funded, and how our tax dollars are spent. The voters who show up have the final word on these matters. You can find coverage of these decisions and their effects right here, week after week.
If you have not yet made a plan, make one this week. You can check your registration, find your polling place, and look at your ballot at myvote.wi.gov. Early in-person absentee voting is available in most communities, so you do not have to wait until Election Day. If you vote by mail, return your ballot early so it arrives on time.
Whoever you support, please vote. Our ancestors earned this right for us, and we honor them best by using it.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here