While many people are wondering what the world will look like when we find ourselves with a new president after Election Day on Tuesday (Nov. 8), the real immediate issue that will have the biggest impact in this election cycle is voter turnout.

Cheshire voters and Connecticut voters overall are urged to get out and take the time to make a difference.

We all think of ourselves as good citizens who intend to take the time and vote. But like those well-intentioned New Years Eve resolutions that many times fade away, one of the most powerful basic rights citizens have earned as a result of our great democracy, the right to vote, becomes an afterthought for many on Election Day.

More so than ever before, in this election cycle it is imperative to exercise that right to vote and elect Democrats across the board in every office on the ballot. On the Cheshire ballot, every Democrat has his or her strengths with common denominators – they all are focused on connecting, interacting and listening to every voter in their district, they are dedicated to working across the aisle to get things done and one word sums up what they all believe in - civility.

Local (Cheshire area) Democratic candidates running for positions at the state and federal level are U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (5th Congressional District), State Senator candidate Ryan Rogers (16th District), State Senator incumbent Dante Bartolomeo (13th District), State Representative Pat Reynolds (90th District) and State Representative candidate Liz Linehan (103rd District)

One excuse used by some people not to vote is that they are unclear what the issues are or where the politicians stand on the issues.

Links to Democratic candidates' websites:
https://elizabethesty.com/
http://www.lizlinehan.com/ 
http://www.danteforstatesenate.com/
http://www.ryanrogers2016.com/meet_ryan
http://www.reynolds4staterep.com/.

In addition to the candidates' websites, another source for local political news is the upgraded Cheshire Democratic Town Committee website, www.Cheshiredem.org. The CDTC website has been transformed into a state-of-the-art destination site for Cheshire-related political news and views with fresh daily and weekly content year round.

If you are an unaffiliated and independent voter who is undecided when it comes to selecting a candidate, all these websites will help educate you about the Democrats.

For many, voting in the past has taken a back seat to family needs, work schedule and even paying the bills. Voters can come up with nearly a dozen excuses not to vote.

Some voters are simply disgusted with politics, especially in this contentious presidential campaign. But if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain. Disgusted? Then vote and change it because you have the power to take a situation you hate and make it better. Vote because the decisions politicians make affect you directly every day.

Even if you vote regularly, the need for voter turnout applies to you as a voter multiplier. Anyone you can convince among family and friends to come out and vote multiplies your vote and increases your chances for your candidates and the issues that interest you to win on Election Day.

Every Cheshire and all Connecticut Democrats and unaffiliated voters are urged to exercise your right to vote. Be the kind of citizen who helps make our Democracy work.