Election date nears for High Plains voters
Throughout the High Plains, farmers, ranchers and rural residents are being bombarded by negative mailers and television and radio ads.
Yes, it is election season, and voters can cast ballots in advance or wait until Nov. 3. Mercifully for voters, Election Day will mean the end of the negativity. It is no wonder politicians get a nasty reputation with all the skullduggery that comes out of the woodwork, much of it deliberately taken out of context.
Many good candidates who become good public servants once avoided negative ads, but the reality is that the election cycle feeds algorithm-driven social media, where negativity draws an audience.
People go out of their way to point out the boogeyman behind all the shenanigans. The only way to stop the nonsense is to exercise your right to vote. In the High Plains states, each state’s top election official has gone out of his or her way to ensure the process is easy and the results are certified.
In a close race, candidates can ask for recounts, and each state has a process for doing so. No matter what state you call home, it is important that poll workers and election officials be allowed to do their jobs.
Cleaning up campaign ads is one thing even candidates who disagree often agree on, but outside money driven by consultants only feeds the flames, and the negativity bleeds into federal and state races.
The only answer to all of this is to continue voting. When possible, try to visit with a candidate during a public forum or campaign stop. Most candidates also have websites that can provide at least some insight into their views.
At the county level, it is easier — in most cases — to engage with local candidates for various offices. It is important to get to know the candidates because they appoint citizens to serve on advisory boards that can make recommendations on any number of issues, including future land use.
Residents should not take those appointments lightly, and appointees should work in the best interest of the community.
Some elections also include state or local questions that can affect taxes. We encourage voters to do their due diligence because those questions can have long-term effects on quality of life or growth.
As of Oct. 16, we are less than three weeks away from “judgment day,” when Americans will exercise their right to vote. The days that follow will be a time of reflection, but the honeymoon will be short as candidates start sniffing out future elections. Before we know it, the mailers, airwaves and social media will be back at it.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
