Autumn in election years provides a wild contrast between the beauty of blazing colors of the leaves and the seemingly endless rows of campaign signage that dots curbsides, medians, and lawns.
Those signs promote candidates for seemingly every office under the sun and it's easy to wonder "Who are all these people?"
While of course not as hyped as the races for the presidency or Congress, their contests -- for the statehouse, the city council, or the school board -- are just as important and a chance for you to vote your values and what matters most to you.
Which candidates best reflect your values and will best represent you in the corridors of the statehouse and the panels in city and town halls?
These races are an opportunity to influence so much that impacts your day-to-day life. Issues and policies like property taxes, local road repairs, land use, the content of curricula and the library in public schools, medical freedom, and so much more are on the ballot in every state and local race.
Some signs don't promote candidates, but ballot initiatives. Don't neglect these either; read the proposals carefully and critically to make the best decision.
Of course, the election is also a particular chance for you to vote your Article V values when it comes to state legislative races. Have you researched or directly engaged with candidates as to their stances on a COS resolution?
It's not enough to merely vote for president and your U.S. representatives. There is still time to get to know the candidates behind all of those signs so that you make informed, value-based decisions in the voting booth.
Your country, your state, and your city or town depends on it.
