With the election in just under a week, there was a bit of a break in presidential politics for us with the hurricane. The reprieve is already over and people are getting all fired up over who to vote for for president.

I can guarantee that there are people going out to vote who will ONLY vote for their presidential candidate and leave the rest of the ballot blank. That’s sad. If you know me in real life, you probably know that I believe informed voting is important.

State and local offices and issues have a more direct, immediate impact on you. Why would you not have your say in how your city, county and state operate?

I would ask that you take a few minutes between now and November 6th, to look up the local issues that will be on your ballots. Check out who is running for judge, what levies are up for vote and what issues you should have a say in. It’s easier that you’d think to find out what’s happening in your district. If you’re reading this blog, you have access to the internet and to the wide world of political resources. As voters in this election, we have the easiest access to information about what we, the people, are sounding off on.

Just because you’re fired up about who to vote for at the top of the ballot, doesn’t mean you should ignore the rest.

Not sure how to get started on research? Go to your favorite search engine and search “(your state/region) voter’s guide” or check out your local newspaper’s website.