Have you checked to see if you are registered. The Secretary of State requires Boards of Election to purge voters each year. Go to the Washington County Board of Elections sight, boe.ohio.gov/Washington and click on “Am I registered?” Type in your name and submit. You should see information about yourself, your polling place, sample ballot and more. if you are registered. If not, get registered before Oct. 7 for the Nov. 5 election. To register, click on the box in the lower left corner “register on line”.

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Click on “sample ballot” for your precinct. Time to do some research on the candidates running for office on your ballot. You can Google, Facebook or Wikapedia the names as you research. Read the newspaper or find articles on Social Media. Attend a rally or forum to gather information. Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens is having a Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 at Marietta College McDonough Auditorium. It is free and open to all so come hear from your candidates.

You’re registered to vote, you have done your research now it is time to vote!

There are three ways for you to vote. One, you can vote absentee by going to the Board of Election website, print the Board of Elections absentee ballot request form, fill it out and mail it in to Washington County Board of Elections 204 Davis Ave, Suite B Marietta, OH 45750. Upon receipt, the Board of Elections will send you a ballot. When you get it, vote and mail it back by 7:30 pm on Election Day Nov. 5.

Two, you can early vote in person at the Board of Election on Davis Ave. from Monday, October 8 to Sunday, November 3. Visit the website to see the hours for early voting.

Three, you can vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. Find your polling location by looking at the chart where you checked your registration or call the Washington County Board of Election at (740) 374-6828.

“Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it’s something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles.” — Abbie Hoffman

What can you do to support democracy? VOTE! Talk to friends and family to encourage them to vote. Be a poll worker. Attend a rally, protest, or forum. Join a group supporting democracy such as Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens.

Betsy Cook 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