Voting is many things. It is, most of all, a right guaranteed by the Constitution, a right.
That’s how we most often think about voting – as a right.
But with it comes an obligation that we fear is too often forgotten – an obligation to know who and what you are voting for.
Many of us don’t know the offices, the duties and responsibilities of those offices and the credentials of the candidates seeking those offices.
This year, Mississippians will go to the polls to select statewide, county and district leaders. There are no national or municipal positions on the ballot.
Voting begins with the Aug. 8 primaries, but our role in the process should begin before then.
Being an informed voter is being a good citizen. We urge voters to use the five weeks prior to Aug. 8 to educate themselves on the decisions they will make when they go to the polls.
The first order of business is to learn what offices you will be voting to fill. While state-wide elections are the same on all ballots, county and district races vary based on where you are registered to vote. The easiest way to get a sample ballot is to go to: https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup and plug in your address to see what your ballot will include.
If you do not know where to vote, call the circuit clerk’s office in the county where you live and they’ll be happy to provide that information.
Once you know where to vote and the offices you will be voting to fill, we urge you to learn as much as you can about the candidates for these offices. While many of these positions aren’t high-profile, they are all important. Their performance has a direct impact on us all so it makes sense to know if they are up to the task.
A good way to get to know the candidates is by attending candidate forums that are staged by civic organizations in the weeks leading up to the election. The Dispatch will publish a list of these forums on its front-page calendar of events.
Forums already scheduled include:
• The Concerned Citizens of Lowndes County political forum for all Democratic, Republican and Independent candidates in local races at 7 p.m. Friday at the Anderson Grove Community Center, 850 Anderson Grove Road, Caledonia
• The Sturgis School Alumni political rally featuring candidates from Oktibbeha County as well as state races at 10 a.m. Saturday at Diane Jackson Memorial Park in Sturgis
• The Concerned Citizens of Lowndes County political forum for all Democratic, Republican and Independent candidates in local races at 7 p.m. July 21 at the New Hope Community Center, 381 Stadium Road, Columbus
• The Concerned Citizens of Lowndes County political forum for all Democratic, Republican and Independent candidates in local races at 7 p.m. July 28 at the Artesia Community Center, 46 South Front St., Artesia.
In addition, as we do every election year, The Dispatch will publish a Voters Guide in our weekend edition prior to the primaries. The Voters Guide will provide candidate information on each race.
It’s a poor student who doesn’t do his homework or study for a test.
Likewise, an uninformed voter who goes to the polls with no real knowledge of the races or the candidates is really just going through the motions.
The quality of our elected officials rely heavily on an informed electorate.
As it is with a student, the more you know, the better the outcome.
It’s time to do your homework, voters.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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