Let's vote

"This is the most important election in my lifetime. There is a lot of stuff to vote for," was a comment Andy Remington made this week. Many agree with Andy that this is an important election, especially for a mid-term election.

One of the great privileges we have is the opportunity to vote and to express our opinion. There have been many who have made a sacrifice to make this possible. We do not realize the value of our democratic form of government. It is our responsibility as citizens to vote. May this never be taken from the citizens of our republic?

It is hard for me to understand why people do not vote and even harder to understand why people do not register to vote. We observed that the citizens of Iraq risked their lives to vote and they voted in great numbers. I do not believe that anyone is receiving any threats in our society when we go to the polls. Why aren't there more going?

It is important that local voters get out and vote. They get out the votes in the urban areas and their outcome often differs from the rural areas. Do you really want the urban areas to determine the election outcome? It is my opinion that a photo ID should be used in an election. I realize that locally it is not needed, but it might keep people in the cemeteries from voting.

Your vote really does count. This was driven home during the primary, where there was almost a tie. Afterwards, there were those who commented that they did not vote, but if they had, the outcome would have been different. There were those who realized the issues who wished that they had voted differently. Speak your choice on the issues and the candidates by casting your vote. It only takes a one vote majority to determine the outcome of most elections.

Most of us including the candidates will be glad when this election is over. Enough is enough. There have been far too many negative ads. People are tired of hearing them. Still, politicians say that negative ads get results. In past years we have observed that negative ads on the local level backfired for the candidate. People are also tired of the phone calls that we have received.

I admit that I become biased and find it hard to be objective. In some ways I become too emotionally involved. Still, I believe that people need to be involved. Involvement is important.

One of the articles in the Kansas City Star advised Missouri voters to become acquainted with the ballot. It is counted by computers giving good and fast results. No longer do they need to remain up nearly all night at the courthouse to count the ballots. We should know the results for Vernon County in a relatively short time.

No longer can we vote a straight ticket for a party by marking an X at the top of the ballot. That has been eliminated and the vote will have to be made for each candidate, which may require more time to vote.

On the ballot a small line is drawn for the candidate of choice. It is easy to make a line too wide to make sure the vote is there. This got the ballot to be kicked out for the woman voting in front of me during the primary. If it is not done properly, there is a good chance that your vote will not be counted. According to the statutes as I understand them, there is no allowance for the election judges to determine your intentions if the ballot is not marked properly.

Much could be said about the Vernon County Ambulance District. They have developed a great, high quality and needful emergency service in Vernon County. A local issue on the ballot is a sales tax for funding the ambulance district, which will next year roll back the property taxes used for the district. This proposal will nearly provide the district three times more "tax" money than the amount being provided at present.

Citizens for a Fair Ambulance Tax are proponents of the sales tax and consist of good quality citizens. There are other citizens questioning why there is a need for this much of an increase in funding? Could it be that there is a need for greater accountability with the existing funds? Are there other greater needs where these funds should be going?

Amendment 2 has received a great amount of controversy. I contend that both sides have given out misinformation. Many are highly emotional about this issue. This amendment would allow all stem cell research permitted under federal law. This will enable Missouri to be competitive with other states and the state would benefit economically. We certainly need research to find cures for a number of diseases, including diabetes. Over $30 million have been spent by the proponents of this amendment -- $10 million more than both candidates have spent on the U.S. Senate race.

This is a change to our constitution not just a change in a law. It is wordy and hard to understand. Are there things in the wording that should not be there? Once passed it will take another Constitutional Amendment to change it.

At last the final days of the campaign are here. Study fully all of the issues and let's go vote on Election Day -- your vote truly counts.