Election time is upon us again, so I thought I’d take a minute to talk with you all about the importance of your vote, and what is up this year on the ballot. I’m being careful as to not to endorse anyone, though anyone that knows me could probably guess which side I fall on.
Here in Fayetteville, elections are taking place for our local City Councilors, so where you are located in the city will determine who is on your ballot. For information on who your city alderman is, and to find which ward you live in, visit http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_council/index.cfm.
As far as the Senate battle currently being waged in our state, the major players are Mark Pryor and Tom Cotton, and I think it’s safe to say that anyone with an internet connection knows more than well who Tom Cotton is. While Mark Pyror has been significantly more muted in his ad war, he let his voice be heard at the debate, which was covered last week right here in the Free Weekly.
The big issue for voters in Fayetteville, which is still present in our minds even though it has it’s own special election happening in December, is of course Ordinance 119. Please, people, just because this issue isn’t coming on the November ballot doesn’t mean it’s okay to sit at home on election day. Go out and let yourself be heard, no matter what your vote is, you have the right to make it and you have to use that right.
MTV’s Rock The Vote is at it again, using their influence to try and rally young voters to the polls this November. It’s a pretty consistent thing, or was at least, that young voters are the most apathetic to elections in general. That apathy doesn’t seem to apply to presidential elections much anymore, but the mid-term elections are just as important. These are the people who make decisions with concerns to our state itself, and we can not stay silent. Staying silent gives you no right to complain in the coming years, and complaining about the government is half of being an American in general, right?
Election day is Nov. 4. On the ballot is an initiative to raise minimum wage to $8.50 over the next two years. Minimum wage currently sits at an astoundingly low $6.25, which makes zero sense considering Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25. When asked for comment, I was unable to get a clear answer as to why the current state code has it sitting below federal level, but suffice to say, that’s one of the potential changes coming in November.
The other major issue for Arkansas voters on the ballot this year is an initiative to finally and effectively end prohibition in the state. I know that sounds like an extreme thing to say, especially for someone who lives in Northwest Arkansas, but the fact remains that half the counties in South Arkansas continue to be dry, and dry counties do little more than increase the number of cross-county drunk drivers, so hopefully the outcome of the election will see us finally putting a stop to that possibility.
Whatever it is that matters to you, this is your chance to let yourself be heard. Get out there and vote. It never takes that long, even at the busiest of times, so what’s half an hour out of your day to shout out for the future?
To deny your voice in the elections is not a form of rebellion, it’s a form of surrender. You have the chance to help create the change you want to see in this world, so don’t stay silent and let the chips fall wherever they end up, take your chance and make yourself heard.
Election Time Again
Dane La Born
Election time is upon us again, so I thought I’d take a minute to talk with you all about the importance of your vote, and what is up this year on the ballot. I’m being careful as to not to endorse anyone, though anyone that knows me could probably guess which side I fall on.
Here in Fayetteville, elections are taking place for our local City Councilors, so where you are located in the city will determine who is on your ballot. For information on who your city alderman is, and to find which ward you live in, visit http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_council/index.cfm.
As far as the Senate battle currently being waged in our state, the major players are Mark Pryor and Tom Cotton, and I think it’s safe to say that anyone with an internet connection knows more than well who Tom Cotton is. While Mark Pyror has been significantly more muted in his ad war, he let his voice be heard at the debate, which was covered last week right here in the Free Weekly.
The big issue for voters in Fayetteville, which is still present in our minds even though it has it’s own special election happening in December, is of course Ordinance 119. Please, people, just because this issue isn’t coming on the November ballot doesn’t mean it’s okay to sit at home on election day. Go out and let yourself be heard, no matter what your vote is, you have the right to make it and you have to use that right.
MTV’s Rock The Vote is at it again, using their influence to try and rally young voters to the polls this November. It’s a pretty consistent thing, or was at least, that young voters are the most apathetic to elections in general. That apathy doesn’t seem to apply to presidential elections much anymore, but the mid-term elections are just as important. These are the people who make decisions with concerns to our state itself, and we can not stay silent. Staying silent gives you no right to complain in the coming years, and complaining about the government is half of being an American in general, right?
Election day is Nov. 4. On the ballot is an initiative to raise minimum wage to $8.50 over the next two years. Minimum wage currently sits at an astoundingly low $6.25, which makes zero sense considering Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25. When asked for comment, I was unable to get a clear answer as to why the current state code has it sitting below federal level, but suffice to say, that’s one of the potential changes coming in November.
The other major issue for Arkansas voters on the ballot this year is an initiative to finally and effectively end prohibition in the state. I know that sounds like an extreme thing to say, especially for someone who lives in Northwest Arkansas, but the fact remains that half the counties in South Arkansas continue to be dry, and dry counties do little more than increase the number of cross-county drunk drivers, so hopefully the outcome of the election will see us finally putting a stop to that possibility.
Whatever it is that matters to you, this is your chance to let yourself be heard. Get out there and vote. It never takes that long, even at the busiest of times, so what’s half an hour out of your day to shout out for the future?
To deny your voice in the elections is not a form of rebellion, it’s a form of surrender. You have the chance to help create the change you want to see in this world, so don’t stay silent and let the chips fall wherever they end up, take your chance and make yourself heard.
For more information on voting in Washington County, please go to https://www.co.washington.ar.us/index.aspx?page=243