Don’t take voting for granted

Don’t take voting for granted

It is a commentary on the freedom that permeates life in the United States that something as elementary to the practice of freedom as the citizen’s right to vote can be taken for granted.

And yet, from year to year ,more people who could vote, don’t. Especially in off-year elections such as this one.

In emerging or struggling democracies, people literally risk their lives to vote. In the United States, where the biggest danger voters face is the possibility of someone handing them a piece of campaign literature, too many people simply can’t be bothered.

There’s an encouraging uptick in voting in Mahoning and Trumbull counties as we approach tomorrow’s vote. Nearly twice as many voters have sought early ballots — what used to be called absentee ballots — than did so in 2007.

That could be because of high interest in the statewide gambling issue, some local tax issues and a few hotly contested races. Or it could be because people simply became more familiar with the early ballot last November, when anticipated heavy turnout for the presidential race encouraged people to take advantage of Ohio’s early-ballot process.

Whatever the reason, it is an encouraging sign. The worst thing that could happen to our democracy is for its Democrats and Republicans, Libertarians and independents, conservatives and liberals and everything in between to neglect to cast a ballot.

For those who didn’t vote early, the polls will be open in Ohio from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Vindicator editors conducted endorsement interviews with candidates in selected races and in recent weeks endorsement editorials have been published.

Here’s a recap of those endorsements, with this caveat: follow our suggestions or don’t, that’s OK; but please don’t let the polls close before you have cast your ballot.

Mahoning County

BOARDS OF TRUSTEES

Austintown: David C. Ditzler and Jim Davis.

Boardman: Robyn Gallitto and Kathy Miller.

Canfield: J. Randy Brashen and Marie Cartwright for the full term.

Richard Puerner for an unexpired term.

Poland: Robert Lidle and Mark Naples.

BOARDS OF EDUCATION

Austintown: Kathy Mock, David G. Schnurrenberger and Richard R. Zimmerman.

Boardman: Kimberly Poma and Mark J. Fulks.

Canfield: Adrianne Sturm, Craig Olson and Brian Kesner.

Poland: Frank DiVito.

Youngstown: Jackie Taylor, Lock P. Beachum Sr. and Rachel I. Hanni.

We also recommended that Mahoning County voters support the 0.5-percent sales tax that produces about $14 million annually for vital county services, the 1-mill, 5-year renewal levy for the library and the 1-mill, 5-year renewal levy for children services. None is a new tax.

Trumbull County

Warren Council-at-large Helen L. Rucker, Daniel J. Sferra and Dan Crouse.

Liberty Board of Trustees: W. Gary Litch and John B. Simon.

Liberty Board of Education: Christine Flanagan, Gloria H. Lang and Joseph S. Nohra Jr.

Throughout Mahoning, Trumbull and Colum–biana counties, various school districts are asking their residents to approve additional and renewal levies that local boards of education have determined are necessary to provide a high quality of education for the next generation. We recognize that nothing defines a community more than its school system, and we urge continued support for local schools and their students.