Endorsements, Opinion, WVPA Sharing

Editorial: Regardless of whom you support, voting is a civic duty

Read other West Virginia newspaper statewide and national endorsements at https://wvpress.wpengine.com/?s=endorsement

An editorial from The Herald-Dispatch:

HUNTINGTON, W.VA. — Americans fed up with the 2016 election campaign’s acrimonious attack ads, name-calling and the like can take solace that the end is in sight. And while they may be eager for the politicking to be over, citizens shouldn’t say farewell to the election until they have completed an important task: voting.

Many have already cast their ballots through the convenience of early voting, and we applaud them for taking their civic duty seriously. But those who have been disgusted by the campaign season – and many people have expressed their disdain for what they have seen and heard – shouldn’t just simply wash their hands of the whole process. Even if the presidential campaign, for example, has turned voters off, they should remember that there are plenty of other decisions on area ballots regarding who will represent them at the local, state and federal level.

The decisions to be made range from U.S. representatives in Congress, governor in West Virginia, state legislators, to city and county officials. All of those offices can affect voters’ daily lives. In addition, some voters in the Tri-State will weigh in on various ballot proposals, some involving taxes.

So we urge voters not to abandon their voice in determining who will govern them and cast their ballots on Tuesday.

Voters seeking information about the candidates and their positions on the issues can go to herald-dispatch.com and click on the Elections link at the top of the home page. The website lists the candidates and contains information about their backgrounds as well as their answers to questions on many issues.

As a further guide to consider, here are The Herald-Dispatch’s recommendations in key contested races in the Tri-State:

U.S. House of Representatives, Third District: Evan Jenkins.

West Virginia Governor: Jim Justice.

West Virginia Secretary of State: Natalie Tennant.

West Virginia Auditor: Mary Ann Claytor.

West Virginia Treasurer: John Perdue.

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture: Walt Helmick.

West Virginia Senate, 5th District: Robert Plymale.

West Virginia House of Delegates, 16th District: Carol Miller, Sean Hornbuckle and either Joe Akers or Chuck Romine.

West Virginia House of Delegates, 17th District: Matthew Rohrbach and Chad Lovejoy.

West Virginia House of Delegates, 18th District: Kelli Sobonya.

West Virginia House of Delegates, 19th District: Ken Hicks and Robert Thompson.

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