Vote: It's Your Chance to be a Voice

After waking my kids up for school today-instead of waiting the usual 40 minutes before getting them out the door, and me onto the Long Island Rail Road, I went over to the North Country Road Middle School and did my civic duty-and voted.

Two propositions (budget and library) and three board candidates. 

I am one of the types who takes voting seriously. While I am not registered in a political party (it's a journalist thing), I do vote in all elections. When possible I take the kids as well, hoping to impart upon them the importance of voting.

There are the feel good reasons: civic pride, duty, honor, responsibility.  But there is a more basic reason I go to vote-along with the feel good reasons I listed: it protects my right to be a voice.

To me it's disengenous to stand before the school board, town board, county legislature and complain about something without having done my part. Certainly you are allowed to-there are no requirements for entry.  And generally, I have never tried to utilize my "earned" rights. But it's nice to know I have it.

So go vote. Up/down that's up to you. But protect your right to be part of the vocal majority by backing it up.

Let me know your thoughts here, hit me on Twitter or on my blog: Dad the Single Guy-would love to hear your take on voting.