Elkhart County Clerk Chris Anderson is expecting a nearly 70% turnout of registered voters in Elkhart County by the time the last vote is counted Tuesday.
Because of such a high turnout, early voters have been waiting in lines from a half hour to more than two hours. Although it’s an inconvenience — it’s a great problem to have. We complain every election cycle about the lack of voter turnout. Presidential election years are always going to be higher — it’s a given. But not every presidential election has sent voters to the polls in droves.
NO PROBLEMS among voters have been reported, thankfully. Instead, as one of our correspondents Denise Fedorow writes in a column today, some people were cheering for voters as they left after submitting their ballot, having endured waiting a couple of hours in line to vote.
Voting is your right as an American citizen, so even if you have to wait in line, exercise that right. Voting matters at every level. Sure, there is a presidential race, but your ballot contains more than that.
The District 2 seat for the U.S. House of Representatives is up for election. You can help decide if Rudy Yakym will retain his seat or if one of his three challengers will become the new representative.
There are also decisions to be made about the Elkhart County Council, the commissioners and several school boards. Not only are they making decisions on the roads you drive on or the schools your children or grandchildren attend, but they are impacting how much money you are paying in taxes. These seats are important and should be paid as much attention to as who the next president will be.
SO WHEN you step into one of the vote centers and you see the lines, don’t be discouraged. Persevere and vote. Your vote matters.
And then after it is all over with and we know who the winners are, let’s be Americans and work for the common good. Don’t let politics keep us from making the U.S. a better place to live or be a divider among our friends and family. Remember, neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris know you, nor would they likely give you a helping hand, but your neighbor might. Don’t let the sowers of discontent destroy us from the inside by pitting us against each other. We are family, we are friends, we are Americans and united we stand for a better America.
Go vote, then be kind.
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