Editorial: Voting starts now!

It’s time to vote. Early voting starts today and runs through Nov. 3. Election Day is Nov. 6.

There are more people registered to vote in North Carolina than ever – nearly 7.1 million.

Unfortunately if the past is any indication – and we all should make a point of making sure it isn’t – barely a third of us will show up to vote.

There’s no major statewide race on the ballot this year – such as a campaign for the U.S. Senate – to drive voters to the polls. In 2006, the last time there was a similar election environment, 63.4 percent of those registered failed to exercise their right and citizenship obligation to vote.

Don’t think for a moment voting doesn’t make a difference.

The results of the 2010 election produced a major shift in North Carolina political alignment. More than half of the state’s voters failed to cast ballots in an election that resulted in dramatic changes in the way congressional and legislative districts were drawn and endless streams of lawsuits challenging the composition of those election districts.

Since that election controversies have raged over funding for public education, providing federally-financed health coverage to those who lacked it, regulating water and air and more.

If you like, or don’t like, the ways things are in Congress and in the General Assembly, there’s no better way to express it than voting. There is only one way to change it, voting. And, starting now there’s time to do it.

Don’t let anyone else speak for you this election. Vote.

See you at the polls.