Published: May 15, 2009 04:46 pm      

Vote now! Residents can speak out at polls

Do you want to have a say in the future direction of the cities of Bluefield and Princeton? You can by voting, and you don’t have to wait until the June 2 municipal contests to cast your ballot.

Early voting is now underway in both the cities of Bluefield and Princeton, and will continue through Saturday, May 30.

City hall in both Bluefield and Princeton will be open between Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to accommodate early voting.

Both elections are contested.

In the city of Bluefield, 17 candidates are vying for five seats on the Bluefield Board of Directors. Eight candidates are running in the city council race for Princeton.

While voter turnout for city council races can be lower than county races, the issues facing both Bluefield and Princeton are of equal importance.

We urge registered voters of both Bluefield and Princeton to exercise their constitutionally-guaranteed freedom to vote.

If you aren’t going to be in town on June 2, or think your job or another commitment will keep you away from the polls, consider the no-excuse early voting that is now available at both city halls.

People who wish to vote should bring their voter’s registration card and identification.

If you can’t find time to vote during the work week, you can still vote early on either Saturday, May 23, or Saturday, May 30, anytime between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With so many opportunities to vote, citizens have no excuse for not participating.

In the city of Bluefield, there are 6,200 registered voters. Clearly, plenty of time is being provided by election officials for these several thousand registered voters to make it to the polls.

We would love to see all 6,200 registered voters vote. The same for the city of Princeton. No one should throw away his or her vote by not casting a ballot.

Residents who want a say in the future of Bluefield and Princeton must vote — either now or on election day.

Once the votes are tallied, it’s too late.

All those who has ever complained about a city government issue, or debated how municipalities could improve the quality of life for citizens, have a responsibility to learn about the candidates and cast a vote for the future growth and well-being of their community.