It’s time to vote. Well, almost.

Election Day is Nov. 5. Voting in Minot will be held at the Ward County Administration Building (225 3rd St SE), The Armory at the Minot Municipal Auditorium (420 3rd Ave SW), and the State Fair Center (2005 Burdick Expressway East) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There are important choices to make locally, at the state level, and at the national level. Voters will decide the fate of six statewide measures, choose who occupies empty seats on the Ward County Commission, who will be our next governor and lieutenant governor, superintendent of public instruction, treasurer, state auditor, insurance commissioner, and public service commissioner.

As voters, we also have the opportunity to decide winners in local legislative races, and who represents us in Washington, D.C., as our U.S. senator and U.S. House of Representative. And, of course, we will choose the next president of the United States.

Our right to vote is as fundamental as it gets; we must never take it lightly or take it for granted. Looking around the world at other countries where citizens aren’t allowed this freedom should make us realize the importance of this basic building block of our government.

It doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle you sit on – what’s important is that you exercise your right to vote. The system only works if citizens use their power at the ballot box. Don’t let anyone tell you that your vote doesn’t matter; it’s simply not true.

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth mentioning again as the election draws near:
Educate yourself on the candidates and the issues on the ballot. Read information about candidates. Review their voting records. Listen to their positions on issues that are important to you. If you see them at events around Minot, ask them questions. Be an informed voter.

Vote. The polls in Minot are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and early voting is taking place right now, so hopefully that gives everyone time to get to one of the polling locations. It’s vital to the future of our community, our state, and our nation that our citizens make their voices heard through their votes.

How we all exercise our right to vote has a direct impact on our daily lives. The Ward County Commission makes decisions that have potentially long-lasting effects on the residents of Ward County, including all of us in Minot. Who we choose to represent us as members of the North Dakota Legislature and who fills seats in statewide offices certainly makes a difference to every resident of our state.

On Nov. 5, or with early voting before that day, I challenge all of us to fulfill our responsibility as eligible voters. Exercise your right to vote in a free election. Be part of the process.

Not to be dramatic, but we should all remember that at least part of our future path depends on the election results at every level. See you at the polls.

You can find more about what’s happening at the City of Minot at minotnd.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. We’d also encourage you to sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter on our website.