It's that time again.

The political campaigns are winding down. The candidates have had their say. The ads and commercials will soon disappear ... at least until the fall.

The only thing left to do before we kiss the May election goodbye rests with you. Go vote.

We would hope that we wouldn't have to continue making this appeal every time election season comes around, but some folks just don't get it. Even with a “good” turnout expected, there will still be thousands of eligible Floyd County voters who won't bother to go to the polls Tuesday.

We've heard all the reasons in the past, but truth is that there is simply no good reason not to vote.

Sure, one vote generally doesn't make a difference in any given race. What would make a difference, however, is if everyone who could vote actually did. Only then would the true will of the people be heard, rather the the wishes of a few.

We've heard people say that voting doesn't really matter because the politicians will just do what they want anyway. But that isn't exactly true. Politicians can get away with catering to special interests because they know those people will vote, while the general public is less inclined to do so. However, if more people began showing up to cast their ballots, you'd better believe the politicians would notice and start changing their ways.

Finally, we've heard people say that the government just doesn't matter to them. They go about their lives, doing pretty much what they want, and the makeup of the government just really doesn't affect them. That isn't exactly true, but this year it is especially false.

This year we go to the polls to select our local leaders. These are the people who will decide how your tax dollars are spent locally. These are the people who will make the rules that govern your community and your life. These are the leaders who are closest to your daily life and have the greatest ability to impact it. To not vote in this particular election is to gamble with your future.

And just because this is a primary election, and Floyd County pretty much remains a one-party system, don't think that this election is only for Democrats. You Republicans, independents and third-party members still have the opportunity to vote in a few nonpartisan judicial races. One of those races, for family court judge, has the potential to impact your life in a very meaningful, very personal way, should you ever find yourself facing a case involving divorce, child custody or child support. Should you ever find yourself in that position, wouldn't you want to know that you did your part to help select the best person for that job?

Before we wrap things up, we cannot fail to note that our country's soldiers are fighting and dying overseas nearly every day. They give their lives to protect our way of life and to ensure that you keep the freedoms you have, including the right to vote. The best way to pay tribute to their sacrifice is to exercise that right. When you fail to do so, their blood is shed in vain.

There are a million reasons for not voting, but not one single good excuse. Go vote.

- The Floyd County Times