Get informed and vote

The apathy is pathetic. Four out of the past 10 Illinois primaries (in presidential election years, which tend to draw more voters) saw turnout less than 30% of registered voters.

The United States Constitution gives us the right to elect our governmental representatives, a right that many have fought for and many continue to work to preserve.

But we the people also have a responsibility to exercise that right and, more importantly, to be informed voters. When we say we aren’t interested in primaries, don’t know enough about the candidates, are too busy to be bothered, we not only give others undue influence over our lives but we also chip away at our democracy.

Time is short, yes, but we must make the effort. We can tap into the many resources available to get informed. The website ballotpedia.org has a lot of information about elections and candidates at every level. So does Indivisible. Your local newspaper questions the candidates about their views on issues and publishes the responses.

Our precinct committee people have met many of the candidates, especially the local ones and have heard them speak. Let’s open our doors when they knock; they are our neighbors and they bring information.

We can ask our librarians to help us find online sources of reliable information about candidates and their priorities. Campaign offices, too, are good resources. Call and ask them questions.

Let’s not sit on the sidelines. Let’s “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,” as the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution states. Let’s get informed and vote.

Diane Dassow

Lombard