If you didn't read it on the front page, we want to remind people that today (Nov. 1) is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 6 General Election. The circuit clerk's office at the courthouse will be open until 4 p.m. today to get that application.
Last week we wrote about how Escambia County ranks near the bottom of voter turnout in elections. That's a shame. If you know you won't be around Tuesday to go to the polls, we hope will see this last-ditch effort to get people to vote. You can go into the clerk's office today and cast your ballot right there. If not, take it home and get it back by Nov. 5.
We don't know whether it was planned this way or whether it just happened but less than a week from the election we will be celebrating Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
Think about that for a minute. We celebrate the veterans of this country who fought and many died to give us the freedoms we enjoy. One of those freedoms is the right to vote. We hope you will pause and remember that many men and women have died to give you the right to vote for the people who represent you.
There are countries around the world who have their politics shoved down their throats because they don't have the right to say who will or won't represent them on matters that affect our daily lives.
There's a lot of voter apathy in this nation because we simply take it for granted. For the most part we allow a minority number of people across this nation or our counties to decide who makes decisions on our behalf that directly affect our pocketbooks and other freedoms we enjoy.
There are some important races in Alabama and Florida that will set the tone for years to come. We hope you will remember the people who died to give you the right to vote and exercise that right Tuesday at the polls.
