Don’t let key local race get lost in the shadows

Published 10:24 pm Tuesday, September 13, 2016

The second week in November is a very important date, as we’ll decide who will lead our nation for the next four years. In the meantime, we must prepare ourselves for this very important decision. While vitally important to our country’s future, the presidential race isn’t the only thing to be decided on Election Day. There is a local race on the ballot, and residents of Baldwin and southern Putnam county mustn’t overlook its significance, either.

The Georgia House District 145 race has come down to two candidates — Democrat Floyd L. Griffin and Republican Rick Williams. The analysis and speculation surrounding the U.S. presidential race is likely only beginning to ramp up as we hit the home stretch to November. With that in mind it may be easy to get caught up in the pundit hoopla and loose sight of the local race, which carries tremendous weight when it comes to the future of the local community. We can’t allow that to happen. Even though others around the state may do so, local voters cannot afford to.

How can we ensure that we don’t allow the District 145 race to get lost in the election year shuffle? First and foremost, we must be prepared. Eligible residents within the district have until Oct. 11 to register to vote or update their voter information. Those who have voted in the past need to remember to check your voter registration information to make sure that it’s up to date, especially if you have changed addresses or your name has changed since the last election. The next step is to get informed. We should all have local issues that are important to us, and we need to know where both of the candidates stand on those key issues. Research their viewpoints and find out what issues matter most to the candidates as well.

Lastly, show up. Early voting for the general election begins on Oct. 17. Georgia law also requires the polls to be open on Saturday, Oct. 29 in all 159 counties for Georgians to vote in the November contests. That means there are two weeks of early voting, along with a Saturday, in addition to Election Day, to vote. Don’t forget also that absentee ballots are an available option.

Nov. 8 is approaching and there’s a lot to be decided — both at the national and local level. Don’t let this key local race get lost in the shadows of the presidential election just because it’s the only local race to be decided.

Have your say in which way history swings.