Anyone who knows me knows that I believe that voting is not just a fundamental right of Americans, but that it is a fundamental obligation. I have taken my girls to the polling places with me since they were infants and when they were old enough, I let them push the buttons or fill in the circles. They are both informed and conscientious voters – even though Sarah is traversing the globe, we send her absentee ballot to wherever she is. In fact, I am so obsessed with voting that I have told the girls, if your friends don’t vote, they can’t come to our house. I took my good friend to get registered when she was over 50 years old for the first time. (Emily’s boyfriend had a close call when his registration was erroneously changed).
Of course, federal elections are critical, but what we have seen is that local elections have more direct consequences on our lives. Missouri voters have voted in legislation that has been reversed by our congressmen, and money distribution by neighborhoods is controlled by the mayor and our local aldermen. And although our legislation has been reversed, it is voting again that will restore the balance.
I understand that it is difficult to be informed about not only the candidates, but all of the initiatives that will affect our daily lives. There is misinformation, misleading titles on the amendments and any number of shenanigans to get voters to vote a certain way, but it is worth the work to validate the information on non-partisan websites, and asking people you know who are informed on a certain issue how they feel about what is on the ballot. I believe that we are so so lucky to have the ability to vote on what we believe is important and I am hopeful that by being persistent and informed voters we will keep this democracy alive.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2026.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
