By Staff
Finally a bit of good news about voter turnout in Escambia County: Voter registration is up in advance of the November elections.
After such a disappointingly low turnout in the August municipal elections, we hope that this means those folks who are registered actually go to the polls on Nov. 4 to cast their ballots. Voter registration is apparently up around the state as well.
History will be made on Election Day, no matter what. Either an African-American will become president or a woman will become vice president. We're living in an amazing time in America, and that should entice folks to vote.
While the unprecedented runs of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Sarah Palin are worthy of note, the most important reasons to go to the polls are the issues at stake for all Americans.
The economic downturn is hitting all of us, whether at the grocery store or gas station. Millions of Americans do not have health insurance. Our troops remain in Iraq. We need a president who will lead us into greater prosperity and security.
We have two worthy candidates in Obama and John McCain. The polls are neck-and-neck nationally and in traditionally battleground states, and they are also closer in a few states that are traditionally red or blue. This could be one of those elections that goes down in history, regardless of the race or gender of two of the candidates.
We're encouraged by the higher numbers of voter registrations.
Now we just need to make sure those people go to the polls on Nov. 4.
Every vote counts.