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The election clock is counting down

The November 6 general election is fast approaching.

During the next few weeks, there are certain to be a series of events locally with candidates appearing, sending out information, campaigning through your neighborhoods and advertising.

Some of those are beginning this week.

The Hancock County Democratic and the Hancock County County Democratic Executive committee are hosting a “meet-the-candidates” event at 6:30 p.m. Monday (tomorrow) at the Millsop Community Center.

Bill Ihlenfeld, Kendra Fershee, Diane Magnone, Randy Swartzmiller, and Jeff Davis, all Democratic candidates on the ballot, are slated to be in attendance.

Another event, hosted by the Weirton Realtors Association, is set for Oct. 11 at the Mary H. Weir Public Library.

In addition to all that, though, there are some things we need to keep in mind as we prepare to head to the polls.

First things first; the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 16. That gives you a little more than two weeks if you are eligible but not registered.

Sample ballots should begin appearing in this and other newspapers the week of Oct. 11. Please note, this is something that is a paid advertisement by the state and counties.

Early voting is scheduled for Oct. 24 through Nov. 3. During that period, registered voters can go to their county elections office, and ask to vote. You don’t need to have a specific reason. Just go cast your ballot.

The entire schedule, including candidate filing dates, finance reports, etc., can all be found on the West Virginia Secretary of State Office’s website.

There is going to be a lot going on in the coming weeks, so if you haven’t already, I would advise all of our local voters to keep your eyes and ears open to when the candidates are in our area.

Attend these candidate events. Check out their websites. Read your newspaper.

Find out what their stances are on all the issues, especially the ones in which you are interested.

Learn how their views may affect you and your community.

If they currently are in office, look up their voting records and see what they have done while representing you.

Look beyond the political rhetoric and the claims. Look beyond the third-party advertisers. See for yourself what these people actually have said and done.

There is a lot going on in this country right now.

There are a lot of issues to which we need to pay attention.

The upcoming election is not going to be about one particular thing. It could very well help to determine where we go as a nation.

Are you happy with how things are heading? Do you think we could be doing better? Which individual do you think has the best chance of getting us to where you think we need to be?

We have about five weeks remaining before Election Day.

I would encourage everyone reading this to take what time they have available to look at what is going on, look at the issues, look at the candidates and then look inside of yourself.

Then, when it is time, go vote.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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