Election season is here! The time is fast approaching to exercise your right to vote. And what a difference this election will make.

We are voting for a governor, county commissioner, member of the Kansas House of Representatives to be our voice in Topeka, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak for the great state of Kansas in Washington, D.C. Several more statewide officials and a whole slew of judges will be on the ballot as well.

Not only is voting our right, it is our primary responsibility as citizens. We Americans appreciate the Founders who made sure our new country would be governed by those we elect, not ruled by a king. A shout-out also to our veterans who defended our rights and to people like former Senators Bob Dole and Nancy Kassebaum who devoted decades of their lives to representing Kansas and to making this country a better place.

One thing we learned in the August Primary Election was that every vote really does matter in local and state elections. Very few votes made the difference not only in the Republican primary for governor but also in several county commissioner and Kansas House of Representative races.

Cast your vote on November 6, or better yet, vote in advance.

Avoid the crowd and vote by mail. Registered voters will have received by now an application for an advance ballot in the mail. If you sign up to get one of these, be sure to mail it back by October 30.

Vote early in person. That’s what I do. I like to say “thanks” to the folks who work the poll at Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Derby. They are fine Americans! Voting will be open Oct. 30 (noon – 7 p.m.), Oct. 31 (noon – 5 p.m.), Nov. 1 and 2 (noon – 7 p.m.) and Nov. 3 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.).

You can vote in advance at other sites all around the county, if that’s more convenient. Find more information at SedgwickCounty.org/elections or call 316-660-7100.

Kathy Sexton
City Manager

Published in the Derby Informer on Oct. 17, 2018.