Susan Cox
Temperatures are cooling down, leaves are starting to show colors, and political signs are sprouting in yards around town. That means it’s time for me to remind you to learn about the current candidates so you can be prepared to vote.
Election Day is Nov. 5 with early voting starting on Oct. 8, and you can register to vote in this election through Oct 7. Requests for absentee ballots must be received by Oct 24. You can find information about all things voting at indianavoters.in.gov.
This year is a presidential election, and that race gets lots of national coverage. Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debated each other last week. If you didn’t get to watch the debate, you can rewatch it on ABC’s website as well as on the YouTube channels for CNN, Fox News, NBC News, PBS, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the USA Debates YouTube Channel, among others. As you sift through all the messages for this, and any other race, try to find information from various viewpoints to help you gain a clearer picture of what each candidate proposes and the possible effects of those proposals.
We have many other races to decide, too. We’ll be picking a new US representative and a US senator. At the state level, we’ll be electing a new governor, an attorney general, and a state representative. Locally, there are races for the school board, the county council, and county commissioners.
Most of these races have more than one candidate, so take some time to learn about each of the candidates. The Republic has already started its election coverage profiling each race by asking the candidates the same questions so you can compare their answers. You can access these articles on The Republic’s website, therepublic.com, or you can find copies of the paper at the Bartholomew County Public Library.
Additionally, the Columbus Educators Association (CEA) gave questionnaires to all six of the school board candidates. You can find all the candidates’ answers on the CEA Facebook page: facebook.com/ceamembers. The Republic also published these answers at the end of July and the CEA Facebook page has a link to The Republic’s coverage.
As you research candidates, consider what’s important to you. Are you concerned about financial issues, abortion, environmental protections, gun safety, or the treatment of racial and social minorities? Find out where the candidates stand on the issues you value. You will probably not find a candidate that values exactly the same things that you do, so prioritize your concerns and pick a candidate that supports your highest priorities even if they differ on some of your lesser concerns.
I also like to consider how candidates work with others, especially those who may not agree with them. Our elected officials need to represent all of their constituents and consider varying ideas to come up with effective solutions. Additionally, I would encourage you to look beyond party affiliation as you evaluate candidates. If you do choose to vote a straight-party ticket, be sure to learn about those running for the school board as these positions are not partisan.
Please make sure you’re registered to vote, take time to learn about the various candidates, and then exercise your right to vote.
Susan Cox is one of The Republic’s community columnists, and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. She is an avid reader, an outdoor enthusiast, a mother, a grandmother, and an adjunct instructor of English at Indiana University Columbus. Send comments to [email protected].
