An open letter to Atascosa County


It is imperative ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS participate in the voting process in the November midterm election as well as all elections. No, I’m not here to argue politics with you; rather, I write to promote the ELECTORAL PROCESS. We live with the belief that the MAJORITY RULES, but we cannot have majority rule without majority participation at the polls. Think about it: with today’s special interest groups, PACs, and lobbyists, who is in charge of your tax money?

I have talked with people who do not want to vote for a variety of reasons:

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME… oh, yes, it does. You are a taxpayer and that money supports roads, streetlights, firehouses, EMTs, police, schools, teachers, and a host of other public servants. Step out of your house, or stay in your house, and you are part of the system, that’s just a fact of life.

I AM NOT POLITICAL … oh, yes, you are. You look around your neighborhood and see things you disagree with, and say “Why doesn’t someone fix that?” Politics involve a real philosophy that affects the citizens of any given area because politics/taxation will determine who fixes that thing that you disagree with. Remember in school, NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION? Voting assures representation.

I DO NOT WANT TO SERVE ON A JURY…well, after serving on a jury several times, I understand jury duty is frustrating and exhausting but it is a vital part of our laws and court systems. Voter rolls are NOT the only source of candidates for jury duty. Driver’s License, the military, Social Security, to name a few, provide the jury pool. If you are on the grid, you can be called for jury duty.

ALL POLITICANS ARE CROOKS…I cannot deny there are some politicians on both sides who participate in illegal activities and use the office as a power tool to promote their own agenda…those who have been seduced by big money and fame…those who have been seduced by radical ideology…the way to get rid of them is to vote every time and get them out of office. POLITICIANS should work for US, the citizens, not their political party but for what’s RIGHT for the majority of us.

I DON’T HAVE TIME TO VOTE…well, MAKE TIME! Mark it on your calendar, in your diary, post it on the refrigerator, and then go. If you are disabled or home bound, you can vote by mail. If you will be out of the county during early voting and on Election Day, vote by mail. Go to early voting, which is easier for us older folks, and there’s a two week window. The clerks and election judges are friendly, precise, and there to speed the process along. Electronic and paper ballots are available.

I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN…voting is a powerful teaching opportunity! Bring them! Explain what you are doing and why. When she was very young, my daughter accompanied me everywhere, along with a box of animal crackers and toys and all kinds of fun stuff to keep her amused.

PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE if you have not done so. Any public library can help with your registration. The Pleasanton Library staff know what they’re doing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. For more information about registering to vote, visit www.votetexas.gov. There’s a ton of information about how to register, what kinds of IDs are acceptable, where to go, how to vote by mail, and so forth.

Finally, research the candidates! All of them are on the web.

The LAST DAY TO REGISTER to vote is Oct. 9. Early voting dates are Oct. 22 to Nov. 2. Election day is Nov. 6, 2018.

Let’s do this, Atascosa! Let’s do this, Texas! Vote!

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