Voting opportunity too important to miss

It might sound like an odd statement, but this year has already been one for the record books, so here goes: It’s not too late to cast your vote in the 2020 election. Why does that sound odd? Well, for nearly every Connecticut voter up until now, Election Day was your one and only chance to cast your vote, and since the day has not yet arrived, of course it would not be too late. But this is not like other years, and under the current circumstances, hundreds of thousands of people have already made their choice and sent in their ballots.

Connecticut has some of the strictest laws in the nation concerning Election Day. There’s no early voting, and absentee ballots are typically only allowed for people who are going to be out of town or are physically unable to go to the polls. But the state is allowing the coronavirus to count as a reason for people to go the absentee route this year, and many people have taken advantage of that opportunity.

But it’s not the only chance. In-person, same-day voting remains available for all eligible residents, and the state even offers same-day registration at certain locations. If you are one of the many people who has not voted already via absentee ballot, your chance has not passed you by.

The reasons to vote are many and varied. The headline race, of course, is president of the United States, which might be the most powerful position anyone can occupy on the planet. It’s worth taking the time to vote for that much alone. All five U.S. congressional races are also on the ballot this year, depending on where you live in the state, and those positions, too, hold great sway in the nation’s capital.

Then there are the lesserknown candidates who are on the ballot for the state House of Representatives and state Senate. With the power to propose and vote on state laws that affect the life of every Connecticut resident, the people in these positions might hold the greatest sway of anyone on the ballot for the next two years, until they are again up for reelection. This year’s state legislative races have focused on issues as varied as police accountability and zoning, from health insurance availability to transportation.

These are the issues that can have the biggest impact on the ground, and every voter is urged, if they have not already cast a ballot, to learn about the candidates up for office in their districts and make informed choices. A lot can happen in Hartford, and it’s up to all of us to see that the lawmakers listen to the people.

Voting is many things — it’s a privilege, it’s an honor, it’s a responsibility and it’s a right. It is not something to be taken lightly, but it also must never be denied to those to whom it rightfully belongs. We have a chance to make our voices heard on Election Day, and it is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss. Get out and vote on Tuesday.

Voting is many things — it’s a privilege, it’s an honor, it’s a responsibility and it’s a right. It is not something to be taken lightly.