Voting has Started. Are you ready?

This year’s elections are underway. Registered voters have till 8 p.m., November 7 to vote. New Washingtonians can register through October 30.

While voting is at the heart of the democratic process, heavy lifting precedes it.

Our local ballot is surprisingly long. My policy is to only vote for candidates who have earned my vote. My obligation is to find out where each candidate stands. If I don’t know the pertinent positions and the office’s demands, I am a sloppy citizen if I cast a vote anyway. Yet I am irresponsible if I don’t vote.

Our foreparents created agencies funded by taxes with cit...