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An easy first step to be part of the process

Sept. 6 marked the first day candidates could circulate petitions. For DuPage County residents, this means that candidates will be knocking on your door to ask for signatures between now and Dec. 5, the last day to file petitions with the DuPage County Election Commission.

The petition is the first step in democracy; candidates cannot be placed on the March 20 primary ballot if they do not have enough signatures.

Please sign the petition form when a candidate comes to your door. Signing it:

Ÿ Allows you to participate in our government;

Ÿ Does not obligate you to vote for that candidate and

Ÿ Will not place your name on commercial mailing lists.

Most candidates stay within their own party when asking for signatures: If you are a Democrat, it is unlikely that a Republican candidate will ask for your signature and vice versa. Only registered voters may sign candidate petition forms (if you are not registered to vote, please register as soon as you finish reading this).

The signature process is hard work, requiring candidates to go door-to-door in all kinds of weather, hoping to find people home and willing to come to the door. Some candidates are required to obtain several thousand signatures. This equals many, many hours of walking and knocking on doors just to be placed on the ballot.

So if you are home when a candidate knocks on your door, please take a minute to answer the door and sign for them. Your signature on a petition is the easiest, fastest and cheapest thing you can do to participate in our government.

Shannon Burns

West Chicago