Early voting starts Saturday October 24th in Western NY
OPINION by Steve Sprague, Bath NY
Inside joke when I worked on Capitol Hill. Staff responding to constituent mail would occasionally add a postscript to the mail to test the congressman’s attention as he signed outgoing letters. “Don’t vote. It only encourages them.”
To the best of my memory, the test was always caught but if it ever slipped through, we never heard back. If that happened today, I’m certain it would be a viral post on whatever social media platform had it first.
Your vote, however, does encourage! If you vote for the right candidate, it encourages them to carry your concerns and your thoughts into the law-making chamber and echo those faithfully. If you vote for the wrong candidate, they’re convinced you’re not paying attention and they can sell their vote to the highest bidder or whatever despot will help keep them in a cushy job.
I’m making plans this year to vote early. Here in Steuben County, early voting days start on Saturday, October 24th, and run from 9 am to 5 pm every day through November 1st. Yes, Sundays included. Machines will be available in Bath at the county office annex on E. Morris St.; in Corning at the Nasser Civic Center Plaza; and in Hornell at the Hornell Arts Center at 56 Broadway Mall.
Why vote early? First, for my own convenience. Though most of us can easily predict what our days will bring, the unexpected always looms. No one plans to have the flu. No one expects a fender bender or a sick relative.
But my strongest reason for wanting to vote early Is to ensure my vote is counted. This year – probably more than any other year in my life – I’ve wished for voting day to come more than I wished for Christmas when I was 5.
I want to cast at least one vote to declare how massively wrong things are going in Washington. We are pandering to a Russian dictator instead of supporting Ukraine’s fight for democracy. Putin’s started a war he has no idea how to stop. He’s dispatched agents to menace American interests around the world. And that’s only scratching the surface.
My most sincere vote this year can’t dislodge that despot but it might help elect someone who can – and will – use the Constitutional power granted to stand in the way of those horrible policies. Sadly, the person who serves this district in Congress now is content to “go along to get along.”
Every election is an opportunity to fix problems or start promising new ventures. But this year, the problems are overwhelming. Corruption and abuse of power in Washington is blatant and virtually unchecked. I long for someone to at least try to stop those things.
We all get only one vote. I can’t predict what happens to me between today and Saturday but I’m not willing to trust the Gods of Fate all the way to November 3rd.
I urge you to consider the same and vote early. But DO VOTE!
In Allegany County
