November 2022 could be the last chance to exercise the freedom to vote. A decade ago, this statement would surely be described as hyperbole. Not today.
The upcoming elections may be the most significant that current generations will ever experience.
Why is this the case? After all, these are midterms, not the general election.
I will share just a few of the reasons why the midterms this year are more important than at any time I can remember. In addition to the fact that every seat in the House of Representatives is on the line, the impact of state and local politics will reverberate across the nation.
For example, have you noticed how frequently we hear the terms “states’ rights” and “state sovereignty” these days? The crystal-clear message is that regardless of who is president of the country and who represents you in Congress, when it comes down to what decisions will impact you most, they will be the decisions of those who are elected to your county, local, and statewide positions.
For example, who will be your state’s Attorney General? Who will be your Secretary of State? Who will be your Superintendent of Public Schools? What do candidates for these offices represent? Learn about the candidates and know that your vote does make a difference.
In years past, voting for members of the school board was often a toss-up because one could assume that all the candidates would have similar ideas about the value of education and a healthy regard for educators or they would not be running for the school board. Today, who is on your school board really matters. For the sake of our children’s future, we must elect school board members who have a healthy respect for knowledge and who understand the value of civil debate.
This is no time to dwell on the past or merely worry about the future. I urge you to enhance the here and now and protect the future by VOTING.
Gwen Dungy 