6 September, 2024 by Eric Dunkelberger

Well, it’s election season again. Once upon a time, they only gave you one day to vote. I remember the lines. There was around an hour or two to do your civic duty and we were glad to do it. Then, they added a few more days and then they made it a week. Now, I believe it’s two and a half weeks. If you need even more time, you can ask for a mail-in ballot; with that you can have almost two months. Here in North Carolina, I think we have the earliest time for mail-in ballot to go out September 6th. That was until the State Board of Elections was ordered by a judge this morning to remove Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s name from all ballots! So, that’s where we are here in North Carolina, waiting for the newly reprinted ballots, hopefully with the appropriate paper.

So, it truly is a season. There is absolutely no good reason not to vote. Can’t find the time? During the early voting period, surely you can find the 30 minutes to an hour it takes to cast your ballot, including standing in line. All it takes is a little time management. With mail-in, you can even vote late at night or early in the morning. As for myself, I prefer voting in person. But, to be honest, I’m usually at the polls anyway. I’m retired and am there working for an issue or candidate, or both. Voting is important to me.

I have not missed an opportunity to vote, to do my civic responsibility. I am a citizen and millions of Americans have fought, and many died, for my rights, among them the right to vote! I do my homework. I look at the candidates to find the ones that best match my views. I am a Conservative and I look for those values in the candidates. I certainly don’t hide the fact that I am Conservative; everyone who knows me, knows where I stand. People ask me who I’m voting for and I’m happy to tell them.

However, I’m shocked with some of the things I’ve heard lately. For instance, ten million legal gun owners and hunters aren’t registered to vote! Really? I have to believe they are supporters of the Second Amendment. Here we are with Kamala Harris saying she will confiscate guns and she knows how to do it. We have Tim Walz, her running mate, saying he wants to ban the type of weapons of war that he didn’t carry into war! If you want to keep your guns, go register to vote and get out there and vote!

Even more shocking is the 25-30 Million Christians who don’t vote! With all the evil being taught in our schools, walking the streets late at night or even the brutal takeover of apartment complexes in Aurora, CO or Chicago, IL. you would think Christians would want to voice there values. They should want candidates that mirror their Christian values. I vote against abortion, LGBTQetc in the classroom, boys in the girls’ bathrooms and sports. I want charter schools and Christian schools for our children. I am a member of various Christian groups that take their values into politics.

James Madison said, “Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.” That was in 1788. Today, that means of preserving it is for every citizen, man or woman, needs to go out there and vote!