To vote or not to vote, that is the question. Do you say to yourself, “My vote doesn’t count!” “One vote won’t make a difference.” “There is no one to vote for.”

Or do you Get ready, Get set, Go Vote!

The United States is a constitutional republic, a form of government which elects representatives that carry out their duties as directed in the U.S. Constitution. We are often referred to as a democracy since we elect representatives to make decisions, decisions deeply influenced by public opinion through voting. For a democracy to function, the citizens need to vote.

Get Ready! Contact the Washington County Board of Elections at 740-374-6828 or follow these online instructions. Go to https://www.boe.ohio.gov/washington/. Click on the big red button “Am I registered.” Type in your name and submit. Here you can change your address if you have moved and check out other items on the menu. It is good to check your registration since local Boards of Elections are told to purge voters for inactivity.

“The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, former U.S. President

Get Set! Now, it is time to look at the candidates and the issues on your ballot. In Washington County, Ohio, go to https://www.boe.ohio.gov/washington/. Click on “Am I registered,” type in your name, and submit. Go to the menu and push “Sample ballot.” You may print that off. With this information, you can do some research on the internet, read the newspaper, attend a debate and/or rally, and talk to neighbors and/or family. Discover which candidate best represents your values and beliefs.

“It’s not enough to just want change … You have to go and make change by voting.” Taylor Swift, singer-songwriter

Go Vote! You must have a photo ID. It can be an Ohio Driver’s license, Ohio ID card free from BMV (www.ohiobmv.gov to get a list of documents needed to take to BMV), passport, and others. Now, there are three ways to vote.

1 – Vote by mail with an absentee ballot. You must send in an absentee ballot request form available on line at https://www.boe.ohio.gov/washington/. In the menu click absentee information then click absentee voting and click absentee voting application. Fill out the form and mail it in to Washington County Board of Elections 204 Davis Ave. Marietta, OH 45750.

2 – Vote in person early at the Washington County Board of Elections at 204 Davis Ave. Check the website the month before Election Day for dates and times for early voting.

3 – Vote in person on Election Day. Find your polling place by going to https://www.boe.ohio.gov/washington/, click precinct and polling location and click polling place search. Poll location hours are 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Thomas Jefferson, former U.S. President

You may be thinking, “why are they talking about voting now when the election is not until November.” The voters of Ohio’s Sixth District for the U.S. House of Representatives are having a special election on June 11 to fill the unfinished term of Rep. Bill Johnson. If you are in the Ohio Sixth District, be sure you are registered, check out the candidates and vote! If you are not voting until the November 5 election, check your registration and begin researching candidates and issues on the November ballot.

“Voting is not only our right–it is our power.”

Loung Ung, Human Rights Activist

Keep our democracy strong! Exercise your power! Vote!

Betsy Cook is a member of Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens, a local citizen group. Our mission is to inform and educate the Mid-Ohio Valley about how government works on the local, state and federal levels and how citizens can be involved to make our democracy work. Join us the third Wed. of each month. livingdemocracymov@gmail.com and facebook/speak foryourselfvote and Youtube channel Living Democracy