Voting forJudges
To the Editor:
On election day, most of us will breeze through the ballot until we come to the part on judges. Lacking enough information to make an informed vote, we eill make our choices randomly or bypass that part.
Thankfully, there is a source of information about judicial candidates in Ohio that can help us. It's a website called judicialvotescount.org. The website includes a county-by-county guide on the judicial seats on the ballot and the candidates running for them; short videos describing the duties of each judicial body; and a chart on the structure of the judicial system.
Knox County voters will be deciding two contested Ohio Supreme Court seats; one contested seat on the Fifth District Court of Appeals; and the Knox County Probate/Juvenile Court judgeship, which is uncontested.
Under the "Know Your Candidates" section for Knox County, there are biographies and statements provided by the candidates telling why they are running and describing the judicial and other legal experience they have had, the kinds and importance of cases they have heard, and their community involvement. While judges cannot take stands on issues likely to come before the court, we can still learn a good deal about their qualifications and experience.
Judges make decisions that affect our lives and our communities. The courts are our backstop for protecting our freedoms and preserving our ideals for society. Make your judicial vote count on Nov. 3.
Brian Miller
Gambier
Vote at the Polls
To the Editor:
Democrats, if an absentee ballot has not been requested, I suggest voting at the polls. Our current president is discrediting mail-in ballots. He stated that mail-in ballots are fraudulent and that we should “get rid of the ballots” so he will not need to transfer power. His ability to win rides on large numbers of absentee ballots being rejected. His autocratic intentions have led him to pressure states to limit and remove drop boxes to make it more difficult for voters to safely deliver their ballots. If he leads on election night, he will continue to seed chaos as the absentee ballots are counted.
If you have already requested a mail-in ballot, make sure it is counted. Before putting your ballot in the mail or delivering it to the Board of Elections drop box, be sure the information on the ballot envelope is complete and accurate and that it is signed as you are registered. Check that you have not marked more choices than allowed on your ballot and that the circles are filled in, no check marks. Make certain the mailing envelope has adequate postage and is mailed at least 10 days before the election, November 3, 2020.
The only reason the current resident of the White House attempts to deny the efficacy of mail-ins is because Democrats have urged voters to vote safely at home. However, the Knox County Board of Elections has released an entire booklet of Covid safety guidelines. If you can vote at your polling place on election day, do so. Let's send a clear message on election night that democracy will not be deterred.
Jo Shrimplin
Jefferson Township
Don't Wait, Save 8
To the Editor:
If you had the chance to save one of your neighbor’s lives, would you? Right now, more than 108,000 people nationwide are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant - and more than 3,000 live right here in Ohio. Their only hope of survival is through the generous gift of an organ donor.
You can make a difference. On October 8, Donate Life Ohio is launching Don’t Wait, Save 8 – a call to everyone across Ohio to save up to 8 lives by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor online.
Myths and misconceptions often prevent people from registering to be organ donors. The truth is, registering to be a donor will never stop a medical team from saving your life, anyone of any age can register and donation is possible even if you have a serious medical condition.
Organ donation provides the only hope of survival for Ohioans waiting for an organ transplant – possibly someone right in your own community. One person can potentially save the lives of eight others by registering to be an organ donor and heal more than 75 people through tissue donation. And that one person could be you.
So don’t wait until your next trip to the BMV to make your decision – join citizens across the state to save and heal lives on October 8 by registering your donation decision at www.donatelifeohio.org.
Kent Holloway
CEO, Lifeline of Ohio
