Your vote does count on election day

A common excuse given by those who do not vote is that they don’t feel their vote counts. Wrong.

While presidential races are usually decided by hundreds of thousands of votes, some can be close and when you take into account the electoral college, a mere couple of hundred votes in a certain state can make all the difference. That was true in 2000 when 269 votes cast differently in Florida would have elected Al Gore president, not George W. Bush.
This presidential election, based on polls, could come down to just a few votes in a few key states.

We agree one vote out of millions in the presidential race may not seem important, but one vote out of a couple of thousand in a local race or on a local issue can mean the difference.
On Tuesday, Porterville Unified School District’s Measure J and Lindsay Unified School District’s Measure L are both on the ballot. The outcome of each bond measure will be close, and a few votes either way will determine the outcome. Your vote will definitely count.
In the Sierra View District Hospital board race where there are seven candidates seeking three seats, the final outcome could come down to a handful of votes. With that many candidates for so many seats, the votes will be spread out and it will be difficult for any one candidate to get a strong majority. The race for the third seat could be very close. Your vote will count

The same is true in the other local races. Your vote, or your not voting, could mean the difference.

Local bonds and local candidates will directly impact you and your children. They will have the biggest influence on your lives and they are the issues and races you have the most control over.

The old saying, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain” is true. You need to get out Tuesday and let your voice be heard. It is your right and your duty.
A piece of advice: Check your sample ballot and be sure where you are voting and that you are not now in a vote-by-mail precinct.