Our Opinion: Take advantage of your right to vote

On Tuesday, voters will have the chance to participate in a truly American activity.
Polling places will be open for the primary election, where we will be allowed to vote for issues that could have a great affect on our lives.

In the last few weeks we’ve told you how we would vote to best help our community, but here is a recap.

z Issue 1 authorizes the state to spend $1 billion in five years, through bonds, to fund the Third Frontier Program. Voting for this will help high-tech companies increase jobs. While Richland County has seen only limited dollars from previous Third Frontier funding this provides much needed incentives that could benefit our workers in the future.

z Issue 2 is a minor issue that if approved will allow a proposed Columbus casino to move from a site in the Arena District to a site once occupied by a former auto parts plant. We can see no reason not to approve this issue.

z Electric aggregation is a win-win for everyone. It provides grants for cities and other local governments and it lowers consumer power bills at little to no risk. A vote for this issue makes sense.

z Voters should approve all school levies and bonds on the ballot. Those of note include a bond issue and permanent improvement levy to allow for school construction in Shelby, and a bond issue for Madison Local Schools for a building to replace the crumbling junior high school building.

Depending on where you live, you also may find a long list of names of people running unopposed.

Voting for these people are mostly procedural, but it is part of the election process.

We fear that because there are no major issues or contested races, that few people will go to the polls. This is tragic, especially when there are so many people who say they are dissatisfied with everything from taxes to politics. This is a chance to speak out

Voting also allows every citizen to show their support for our democratic form of government. A democracy works only when its citizenry participates.

Find polling places online at richlandcountyoh.us/boe.htm.