Letter: Exercise your right to vote

Published 9:11 pm Sunday, October 17, 2010

The importance of every voter to exercise his or her sacred right to vote cannot be over-emphasized in this turbulent time in our nation’s history. In fact, the 2010 general election may very well be the most important one of our collective lifetime.

I’m reminded of the answer Benjamin Franklin — at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention — gave to the person who slipped up to him and asked, “What have you wrought?” Franklin quickly replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

And keep it we shall, if every qualified voter does what active registered voters, by definition, do best — vote. Vote on Election Day, Nov. 2, or better still, vote early. The polling places are open now on weekdays through Oct. 29. Also remind your family members and friends to also vote. Now is the time to have the voices of all Americans loudly heard and the way to do it is to vote in the election. We need to get our country back.

Another strong reason to vote in this election is the potential upcoming redistricting among Georgia’s 11 congressional districts. Based on expected population changes in the 2010 Census, it is almost a certainty that some redistricting of the congressional boundaries will take place between this November’s election and the general election of 2012.

The new Georgia governor, members of the Georgia General Assembly and certain other elected officials will be charged with this responsibility, which is why it is important that voters vote for those candidates who share their convictions and values.

An even more important reason to vote is that too many of our service members have given their lives in present and past wars for us to have the right to vote. We honor their memory by casting our ballot.

Chris Cates

Blairsville

Editor’s note: Cates is a former candidate for the 9th Congressional District. He ran as a Republican in this year’s special election to fill the seat vacated by Nathan Deal.