Just get out and vote

If you know about history, especially 20th century history, you know that we are currently in danger of losing our democracy. Our best defense is for everybody to vote, in every election. And I mean everybody.

It’s no longer cool to say, “Don’t vote, it only encourages them.” You may think it’s all a game that politicians play, that it doesn’t affect you personally. Think again.

You may be mad at the Democrats because of Bernie. You may say there’s not enough difference between the parties to matter. Yet sometimes a small difference has big effects, like 32 degrees and 212 degrees Fahrenheit. An extra six inches of rope can save a drowning person.

You may fear that elections are rigged using CrossCheck, and voter purges, and gerrymandering, and voting machine manipulations. And you are probably right. Vote anyway.

Every town could set up groups of volunteers to conduct exit polls to see if their results agree with the official vote count. Exit polls are recognized worldwide as a standard for measuring the integrity of elections.

Help your neighbor to get out and vote, and to register, and to get voter ID if that is a problem for the elderly or others without cars.

If you want our country to remain free, then vote, and vote as if your life depends on it. It very well may. CORALIE KOONCE

Fayetteville