You have probably heard this before, but if you do not vote, then do not complain.

We hear people complain about politicians and officials all the time. However, you may be surprised that many of those same citizens won’t get out and vote.

We have the right to vote and choose our political leaders in the United States. Now it is even easier with early voting and, in some states, even mail-in voting.

West Virginia’s Primary Election is Tuesday, May 14, while Kentucky’s Primary Election is Tuesday, May 21.

This is the year we will elect our future president. In most states, U. S. Senators will be selected and a governor’s election in the Mountain State is also being held. Of course, every two years, we elect or reelect our congressional representatives. Many important local county positions are also on the ballot.

In the primaries, each party elects its representatives to run in the General Election, which is in November. So whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent or another party, you should get out and vote in the coming elections.

However, in some cases, there are non-partisan officials running. Like, in West Virginia, important offices such as circuit, family court and magistrate judges and board of education races are up for grabs. So whoever wins in the May elections will already be elected.

It is your fundamental right as an American to vote. You can help decide who runs your county, state and the country.

Exercising the right to vote is essential to being a good citizen.

The failure to vote represents implied consent to governance by incumbent public officeholders. Thus, if you are not happy with any current government official, then you should get out and vote. Encourage family members to join you as you cast your votes.

I remember going to the precinct at Nolan Grade School with my father Sam Lovern to vote for the first time after I turned 18. My family was always interested in the elections and the candidates. That interest was ingrained in me and I have never missed an election through the years.

If you are not sure who you want to vote for, it is fairly easy these days to find out where certain candidates stand on different issues. You cannot use that as an excuse.

I am not endorsing any candidates or trying to tell you how to vote. That is your privilege and your privacy.

Before you go to the polls, look at the local politics and ask if you are happy with the way things are going in your county. Research the statewide situation and decide if things are how you perceive they should be.

Mostly, look at the national situation and the state of affairs in our country. Look at the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel protests on college campuses.

How about inflation? You are paying much more at the grocery store, at the gas pumps, for utilities and everything you purchase today than you did just four years ago.

A lot goes into planning a personal budget, and the price of food and how it fluctuates with inflation can be a big part of that.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food prices rose by 25% from 2019 to 2023.

Campaigns and elections can be messy affairs, but our democracy has stood the test of time. There is mud-slinging and commercials airing on different candidates. It is up to you to decide who you believe and who you want to vote for.

Voting impacts your future and the future of your children and grandchildren. If you are not happy with the way things are going then get out and exercise your right to vote.

Participating in local and federal elections is one way for people to support policies that serve their community’s needs and ensure they have a say in the decisions that benefit society.

I’ll close with this quote from one of my favorite writers, Mark Twain.

“But in this country we have one great privilege which they don’t have in other countries. When a thing gets to be absolutely unbearable the people can rise up and throw it off. That’s the finest asset we’ve got—the ballot box.”

Until next time.

(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)