Dear Editor,
Voting is a privilege, with privilege comes responsibility. We have a year before a general election to prepare. Voting is a process requiring study, and involvement. Getting registered early is helpful; DMV and government class may help with registration; however, sometimes registrations are not turned in in a timely manner. The election office needs a couple weeks to input your information. The office will send you a card as to which precinct you are in. Keep the card or remember the number. Nothing worse than getting to the polls late in the afternoon and not being found in the register, the list of voters for that precinct.
The voting process requires an ID. One will be surprised as to how many people have the same name, your physical address, which determines your precinct. Your signature in the register book and on an absentee ballot will be checked with your signature on file.
Some people insist on voting in person. A thought, there are several precincts at Metra; each precinct has from 1,500 to 2,500 voters; each looking for a parking spot and their precinct line. Absentee or mail in ballots don’t look so bad. If you don’t believe the mail service will deliver your ballot, it can be dropped at any polling place within your county. Again, mail at least the week before election day. You can vote at the election office any time after the ballots are printed.
If you are interested in voting, don’t wait until the last minute; be prepared; be informed. Watch your mail for election information.
Lauris Byxbe
Pompey’s Pillar
