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The importance of every voter to exercise his or her sacred right to vote cannot be overemphasized in this turbulent time in our nation's history. In fact, the 2010 General Election may very well be the most important one of our collective lifetime.
I'm reminded of the answer Benjamin Franklin, at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, gave to the person who slipped up to him and asked. "What have you wrought?"
He quickly replied: "A republic, if you can keep it!"
And keep it we shall, if every qualified voter does what active registered voters, by definition, do best: Vote.
Vote on Election Day, Nov. 2, or better still, vote early. The polling places are open weekdays at specified times and locations through Oct. 29. Also remind your family members and friends to do the same.
Now is the time to have the voices of all Americans loudly heard and the way to do it is to vote in the elections. We, as Americans, need to get our country back!
And another strong reason for voting in the 2010 General Elections is the potential upcoming redistricting among Georgia's 13 congressional districts. Based on population changes reflected in the 2010 Census, it is almost a certainty that some redistricting of congressional boundaries will take place between the time of this election and subsequent tremendously important 2012 elections.
The newly elected Georgia governor, members of the Georgia General Assembly and certain other elected officials will be charged with this responsibility. And that is why it is most expedient that voters consciously vote for those candidates who share their convictions and values. Such elected officials are expected to vote accordingly.
An even more important reason for casting your vote now, and in future elections, is that too many of our servicemen have given their lives in present and past wars for us to have the right to vote. We honor their memory by doing so. God bless America.
Chris Cates
Blairsville