Humm: All elections important; vote with conviction, inform yourself

It is our responsibility as Americans to exercise our right to vote.

Those in history who were once not allowed to vote now have the opportunity to do so and we need to take advantage of what those before us fought for.

As a woman, I feel like I owe it to those women who fought for equal rights in the 19th Amendment that prohibits limiting citizens to vote based on gender. Even though it has been 90 years since the law was passed and many people take it for granted, it is still something that I appreciate.

We, as citizens, should be proud to cast our ballots and know that our votes do count, even if the person we voted for doesn't win.

It is the simple fact that we have the opportunity to make our decision on who we want to vote for.

Even though statistics show that voter turnout is weak during mid-term elections, that doesn't mean those elections aren't important. The people we vote for in the upcoming election will represent us at the local, state and national levels.

They will vote on our education system, taxes, roads, budgets and other important issues that affect our everyday lives.

If we don't vote then other people are making the decision on who will vote on issues that can change our lives. It is better to have said you voted and your candidate lost than to have not voted at all.

Flashy campaign material, mud slinging, persuasive debates and telling voters what they want to hear will be found in elections. However, that shouldn't be what we base our vote on.

The issues that we find important and candidates that represent our personal morals should be the deciding factor on whom we support for elected office.

Even though being an educated voter does mean taking a bit of time to research what the candidates stand for, it is important to do.

With the mid-term election being Nov. 2, there is still time to study up on the candidates and decide who could best represent you and what you stand for.