Your vote is important in more ways then getting someone elected. Although getting the right person elected to the right position(s) is crucial, there is a side note to your vote that few take the time to think about.
If you believe only those running for office are watching to see how the votes turn out, your wrong. A great deal of time is spent by those in office, businesses, those agencies monitoring government, and even foreign countries looking to see who people are voting for and what it is the voters are saying by casting their votes.
Your vote tells these watchers what is important to you and other citizens. The pattern of votes cast can shed light on whether taxes is more important than education, gasoline prices are more important then the environment, and a myriad of other examples.
How you vote SHOULD tell government what you value, what is important in your life, and what areas you want government to change. This is why it is so crucial to closely evaluate candidates. When you vote for someone, it is seen as endorsing the policies of that person. If you only vote for someone because you like the way they dress, the color of their skin, the foods they eat, etc., without making it a statement of what YOU value and believe to be important, then you are throwing away one of the most valuable tools that you have as a citizen.
Whether your particular candidate wins or loses, you still win by voting. You send a message to elected officials, business leaders, foreign nations, etc. about the things that are important to you. Will you take the time to send an accurate message?
Please do not forget to vote on Tuesday November 4th. And, if you are a citizen of the Town of Christiansburg, take the time to sign one of the petitions to allow voters to decide when they want Town elections to be held, November or May.