Clearly, registering to vote is only the first step. Besides educating themselves about the candidates and their stand on the issues it is imperative that Kansans vote. Declining voter turnout levels have got to be turned around. If Kansans want to gain and maintain a strong voice in government they have to take time to vote. Although voter registration is at its highest level in Franklin County with 16,171 people registered.
Potential voters have to understand that their one vote can make a tremendous difference.
Too many elections have been won by the least qualified candidate by just a handful of votes. Votes that could easily have been cast by people who didn't take their voting privilege and obligation seriously enough. Younger Kansans, in particular, are being targeted for the voter registration campaign. Sadly, fewer than 1 in 5 of 18 to 24 year old Kansans voted in the last presidential election. Voting is one of our most important rights.