2018 VOTE: The Midterms have never been more important
You have until October 5, 2018 to get your registration completed in the State of Montana. Get it done TODAY!
As much as the major political parties bicker, debate and disagree, they all agree on one thing: The 2018 Midterm Elections are extremely important.
Those that welcome the change that a GOP led federal government has brought know that an alteration in the current power structure could derail a major portion of President Trump’s upcoming agenda.
Those that are displeased with his term in office want things to change and change now. They know that if they can swing the makeup of Congress and take power away from the Republicans, that what they see as wrong in Trump’s administration may be slowed or stopped altogether.
Either way, the vote on November 6, 2018 is worth your time.
The United States of America is built on government of the people, buy the people and for the people. It works best when all of its people are actively involved with their representatives and voicing their opinions and ideas about how best to run our democracy. When you don’t take a few minutes to understand the ballot measures and who’s running for which office, you cheat the entire country.
Yeah, you save a few minutes of your life that you can use later to snag that tasty latte, but you may get burned by a bunch of folks who have a far different outlook on life than you do.
In short – Get Out And VOTE!
To be able to vote, you have to register. The laws vary slightly from state to state, but in Montana you must be registered at least 30 days prior to Election Day. It’s a pretty simple process and you can start by following the form found on the Secretary of State’s website. CLICK HERE to get registered!
Once you’re registered, know what you’re going to be voting about.
By this time in the process you’ve probably seen about a gozillion political advertisements. They use to just be on TV and radio, but nowadays they are everywhere. You can’t even play a game of Yahtzee on your phone without someone telling you how the opposition is pure evil.
But the best place to get the basic, stripped down information on the bill is on the www.BallotPedia.com. For the Montana 2018 Election, CLICK HERE and then follow the links to each measure that you’ll be checking a box for or against.
The people being elected to office are a whole different kettle of fish. There is nowhere on the internet, or anywhere else on God’s green earth for that matter, to just go and see who they are and what they are about. Making a decision on the candidates is going to take a little leg work. But don’t let that scare you.
Start with just Google searching each one’s name. No matter what state you’re in, if they are vying for a state or federal office, there will likely be a few hundred websites singing their praises or detailing their faults. Sort through those by making sure you use a variety of websites and avoid ones that are provided by a single party or that lean hard one way or the other.
Then talk to your friends and family. Now, no matter how sane or well-grounded your family member may seem, they have an angle. Every one of them. But don’t worry, in time you will too. The trick is to develop a viewpoint and information base that allows you take in all of the information and sort out the cream from the crap.
An no matter what you do, don't just take what people forward you or post to social media as the truth without checking it out first.
And here in Granite County, we already have our Sample Ballots available. You can view this one in our story or download one by CLICKING HERE.
In the end, regardless of party affiliation, you’re job as a citizen of the United States is to pick the best person for the job. Period.
But even if you don’t feel like you’re the most informed person on the planet, THE most important things in the entire process is that you show up on Election Day and VOTE! No matter what anyone says, your vote counts. Doesn’t matter if the candidates or the ballot measures you selected win or pass, it only matters that you made your voice heard.
The United States is rare in that the voice of its citizens matters. Make your voice heard Nov. 6!
