Editorial: Voters need to focus, avoid distracting candidate implosions and campaign hijinks

It is early October. It is an election year. This is the time when campaigns should be the most focused. The messages to voters about candidates and stands on critical issues become sharpest and to the point. In a mere two days the campaigns for president and the U.S. Senate – as well as one of the critical issues concerning the appointment of the next U.S. Supreme Court justice – have been tossed topsy-turvy.

And let’s not forget efforts to undermine the State Board of Election’s work to clarify procedures concerning mail-in voting.

At a time when voters ought to have the information needed to shape their choices, they instead are finding more confusion and chaos. Candidates and campaigns have no one but themselves to blame.

In an election year like no other because of the demands imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates and campaigns haven’t been satisfied to struggle with those challenges. They’ve added to it with their own missteps along with failures to observe basic health and safety practices.

It has been a disservice to the voters that they’re seeking to sway.

Let’s review:

The U.S. Senate is in disarray as several Republican senators have been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive – including North Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis who is in a tough re-election campaign.

What’s a voter to do? Here’s our suggestion:

On the top of this page, there are handy online links. Make sure you’re registered to vote.

And VOTE! There are three ways: by mail (request a ballot no later than. Oct. 27 and get it in the mail by Nov. 3); early in person (starting Oct. 15 and continuing through Oct. 31); and voting on Election Day (Nov. 3).