Vote Early and Vote Often

These memorable words are attributed to the late Mayor Richard Daley and are often misconstrued as an encouragement to commit election fraud. While the legendary mayor's ethics in many areas were often questionable, in this instance he intent was to encourage his audience to vote in every election, not more than once on a given election day.

Properly understood, Daley's message is valid today more than ever. Tomorrow Michigan voters will be given the opportunity to express their views on several crucial issues, the candidates to represent both parties in the congressional and state legislative races this fall, numerous judgeships plus the occasional ballot proposals, many of which impact local mileages.

The Secretary of State's office estimates that only 20 % of registered voters will cast a ballot. Twenty percent! In a state immersed in such misfortune as the Great Lake State, this figure is especially appalling. In a time when virtually every Michigan household is affected in some way by our state's economic woes, exercising our voice is one of the few remaining weapons left in our collective arsenal.

So by all means, vote early AND often. Let's hold our leaders accountable.
For them, the will of the voters can be a very inconvenient truth.