It’s time to get out there and vote

Next Tuesday is the first Tuesday in June, and in South Dakota, that means it’s time for the Primary Election. As Lampert Real Estate’s ad says on the front page of this very issue of the Chronicle, get out there and vote.
It’s a very easy time to be disenfranchised with the government. Especially at the national level. But locally, things are a little more sane and a little less contentious, and choosing our local elected officials is vitally important, because they are the decision makers who have the most effect on our day-to-day lives. Political junkies love to spend hours arguing about national politics, but the decisions made in the town halls across this county affect the residents of the county much more personally than the decisions made by federal politicians.
There is no lack of races going on in the county, and we have highlighted those races throughout the past few weeks in the Chronicle. From school board to county commission to town boards to referenda to a Fire Fund opt-out, there are lots of decisions to be made next Tuesday. We hope there will be a strong turnout of voters to make sure those decisions are made soundly.
We do not endorse candidates here at the Chronicle. For many years, newspapers have offered endorsements of candidates, mostly at the national level. We, of course, want to be perfectly unbiased when it comes to covering elections and candidates, so therefore we do not tell you who we think for whom you should cast your ballot. After all, that’s a personal decision, and in this day and age, most people have a pretty good idea who they are going to vote for and don’t need someone from the newspaper telling them which way to go. That is especially true in the towns such as Hermosa and Buffalo Gap, where most of the people on our staff really don’t even know much about the candidates.
We have made one endorsement this election cycle, however, and that is saying we are firmly behind the Fire Fund opt-out. Our fire department simply needs more funding, and it is a small price to pay to make sure fire departments continue to show up when an emergency call is placed. On that note, the establishment of an ambulance district on the eastern side of the county seems pretty much a no-brainer as well.
We should never take our civic duty of voting lightly. Never forget, there are countries around the world where citizens don’t get to vote, or their votes don’t really count. We are fortunate to live in a place where that is not the case. Our votes matter, particularly at the local level, where races frequently come down to one or two votes. There have been a few elections over the past few years locally where that has been the case.
It’s fitting that Election Day is also around the same time as Memorial Day. Many soldiers have fought and died for our right to cast a vote in Tuesday’s election. Honor them by doing so. And, honor your community by going out and helping decide who is going to lead it over the course of the next two, three or four years.
Best of luck to all the candidates. Just by running, you’ve told us you care about the community.