Make your voice heard: Remember to vote Tuesday

There's one thing you can say about Kenai Peninsula residents: they tell it like it is.

Glancing over the responses to this week's Clarion question Are you going to vote in the Tuesday, Oct. 2, municipal election? is garnering some very similar comments. Basically, what folks around here know is that you don't earn the right to complain if you don't step in the voting booth.

Election day is Tuesday. If you want to make a difference in the place you call home, then vote.

It doesn't matter whether you're delighted with the way things are going in borough and city government or whether you're disgusted with the state of the local political scene, this is your chance to either help keep things on track or turn the ship in a new direction.

The important thing is that you exercise your right and responsibility to have a say in how things are going.

Unfortunately, the latest reports say more people voted for the "Dancing With the Stars" reality show winners than did in the last presidential election. That doesn't say much for the state of our of country.

Here on the peninsula, the typical voter turnout of about 25 percent is disheartening so few people deciding such important issues for the majority. Is that really what you want? Of course not.

The more people who vote, the better directions elected officials have. The better directions elected officials have, the more likely they are to be in step with what people want. It's a two-way street.

It's just shameful not to vote when we have that privilege, which we should consider too precious to take for granted.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., so there's no excuse not to show up. Such good things can come from a few minutes of your time.

Make a statement without saying a word. Make yourself heard.

Please vote on Tuesday.