It’s election season. That special time when politicians sling mud, fine tune their beliefs (sometimes called “flip-flopping”), and make enthusiastic promises (not all of which are empty). This theatre will reach a climax on November 6 when Americans vote to determine who will be our next president.
Voting is one of the most important things you can do as a citizen. Though many take it for granted, the battle for the right to vote was fought in the not too distant past. And despite what pundits and the disenchanted say, your vote absolutely counts.
In Pennsylvania, where we’re based, keep these key dates in mind:
- March 26- Last day to register before the General Primary
- April 17-Last day to apply for a civilian Absentee Ballot
- April 24-General Primary
- October 9-Last day to register before the General Election
- October 30-Last day to apply for a civilian Absentee Ballot
- November 6-General Election
It isn’t prudent for us to tell you who to vote for, but we can provide sites where you can educate yourself on the candidates and the issues:
- To learn more about voting in Pennsylvania, including how the Voter ID law will impact your ability to vote, visit Committee of Seventy.
- For information on the candidates including biographies, voting records, interest group ratings, positions on important issues, public statements and campaign finance, visit Project Vote Smart.
- If numbers and statistics are your thing, check out Nate Silver’s blog.
And finally, as we work our way toward the presidential debates, we encourage you to try to hear both sides of each argument. We’re not suggesting you switch from MSNBC to Fox or NPR to Rush Limbaugh (or vice-versa), just that you open your mind and do your best to make an educated, informed decision on Election Day.
