You can help with dismal voter turnout

Russia. Immigration. Jobs. These are the headlines in the news today. While these are all topics for thoughtful debate and consideration we must not miss an opportunity to shape the government entities that affect our communities every day.

Many of us feel that our views are not being heard, that nothing we do can affect the world around us. On April 4, we will be electing village officials, school and library boards and township officials among other local positions. These people will be making the decisions that affect us directly and daily. What kind of curriculum should our children be studying? Should our libraries be concentrating resources on programs aimed at teens and seniors? What can our village board do to bring new businesses to our communities? How will our property tax dollars be spent?

As my favorite fictional president once said, decisions are made by people who show up. Historically consolidated general elections show the lowest turnout of any election on the calendar. In the April 2015 consolidated election 12.7 percent of eligible voters in Glendale Heights decided who would be making the decisions that define our communities. Please be sure to get to the polls April 4.

Peter Null

Glendale Heights