Another week done. There never seems to be enough time in a day when your to-do list continues to grow by the second. And what’s even worse is when you hold yourself accountable to learn about not only what’s going on in your English 411 class, but something you have no idea about.
As that has been my life the last couple weeks, I have made it a point to at least give myself a few minutes each day to stick to the challenge I created for myself.
I mean, politics are not the most exciting topic if you ask me, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. If I’m not taking the time to educate myself, who will?
In my last column, I asked you to take a journey with me. I asked you to figure out what’s important to you from a political standpoint and to understand why. I challenged you to take responsibility for your own learning about something that so many people have so many uneducated opinions about. Did you?
This week, I want to bring something new to the table, something I’m willing to guess most of you haven’t thought about.
Thanks to an extremely helpful reader and her suggestions, it occurred to me I have been leaving out one of the most important things to think about during election time.
What about those decisions that will influence you directly, those that will really hit home? Not only is it important to think about your presidential choice, but it’s critical that you spend some time thinking about local lawmakers.
Depending on the district you are registered to vote in, there will be local, state and congressional representatives on the ballot. Sometimes these elected officials can have an even greater impact on laws and regulations that will directly affect you and the town you live in.
The congressional representatives chosen from your district will represent your state by serving either the Senate or House of Representatives for the US Congress. They are responsible for passing bills into federal laws.
On an even more local level, representatives are chosen to serve in the state legislating body. They pass state laws, which very often hold precedence over federal laws passed by Congress.
County and township officials are also elected in each election. Officials in these elected positions, such as sheriffs, justices and local school board members, will have a direct impact on local laws for the communities in which you live.
To understand why this information is relevant to you and why it’s so important to educate yourself on the candidates for these positions, go to Michigan.gov/vote.
I don’t know about you, but I would hate to get into the voter’s booth and have no idea who I’m voting for.