Over the weekend, an estimated 7 million people turned out for peaceful protests across the country, known as the No Kings movement. While we’re not aware of any protests that went on within Sampson County, it’s a good time to remind everyone that you have the right to express your opinions at any time on any issue.
Our constitution grants the rights of freedom of speech and allows protesters to assemble peacefully. Another right granted to all United States citizens is just as important — the right to vote. Our founding fathers (and mothers) fought for our rights to have a voice in our government, both at the local, state and federal level.
On Thursday, early voting started for this year’s municipal elections. Turnout for municipal elections is generally low, since only those residing within a municipality can cast their votes for mayor or town board. However, it’s inherently important that everyone exercises that right to vote.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — no elected official has more direct impact on your daily life than your local town board members. The mayor cuts ribbons and leads meetings, but can only cast a tiebreaker vote on town matters. The people who are most important to making change in our communities are our councilmen and women, commissioners, and aldermen. They decide your property tax rates, your water and sewer rates, how much you pay for trash pickup, and whether or not a new business can locate in your town. Politics doesn’t get much more impactful than that.
And yet, many people won’t bother heading to the polls to vote for the men and women who affect their lives the most. But voting is the only surefire way you can truly make a difference in your community. Think about this. Many mayors and town board members are incumbents, running unopposed. Imagine if a citizen had the desire and drive to serve, but missed the candidate filing deadline. Well, if that person decided to go for it anyway, they could always be a write-in candidate. If enough citizens voted for that write-in, they could easily win the seat without their name ever appearing on the ballot. That’s one of the beauties of democracy.
You have a voice in what goes on in your community. You don’t have to sit back and just go with the flow. You — and only you — have a hand in deciding what happens to your town.
It’s often said that if you don’t vote in an election, you don’t have a right to complain. Well, you can always complain; that is your right as an American. But wouldn’t it be better to make a difference before whatever event happens so that you can have a hand in the outcome?
Research the candidates. Check out our upcoming profiles of the candidates in the contested municipal races, which will be coming up in our Wednesday and Saturday editions. If someone seems like a town commissioner you agree with on the biggest issues, vote for him or her. If nobody on the ballot seems to have your best interests in mind, vote for a write-in that you know would be willing to serve if elected.
Every vote matters. There have been races in surrounding counties that were decided by one vote. If you think your vote doesn’t make a difference, think about that. You never know when you could be the deciding vote that seals the fate of your community.
So, if you don’t have a chance to vote early (through Nov. 1) at the Agri-Expo Center, please vote at your local precinct on Nov. 4. The right to vote is a precious one, and one we should never take for granted.