Be an informed voter

The annual Oberlin Community Candidates Night is quickly approaching. And while we have no candidates for local offices during this election, and the top names on the tickets -- John McCain and Barak Obama -- will not be there, we would encourage residents to make a point to attend.

Candidates who have been invited to attend include those running in contested races for many posts that impact Oberlin. These positions include U.S. Representative, state Supreme Court justices, and county commissioners.

Those elected to these positions will influence the quality of life here in Oberlin in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. From court decisions on a wide variety of potential topics, to funding for roads and recycling programs, to helping to right the foundering ship of our economy, we get to decide who makes those decisions for us.

Of course, as a matter of policy, we will not endorse any candidate over another. We believe the people of Oberlin are politically savvy enough to make those decisions for themselves without the editorial board of the newspaper telling them how to vote.

But we do feel Oberlin residents owe it to themselves to attend the candidates night in order to be politically savvy about this election in particular. To often, particularly in presidential elections, people look at the names on the ballot knowing nothing about the individuals, recognizing them only from a yard sign or a television ad.

The candidates night will permit voters to meet the individuals asking for their votes and to ask them the tough questions. A 30-second political commercial offers only what the candidate wants you to know, but at candidates night voters get to decide.

On a related note, we commend Oberlin College for arranging transportation to the Lorain County Board of Elections to allow students to register to vote and to cast early ballots. While we have reservations on the decision by the secretary of state to permit registration and voting on the same day, we commend the college for making sure college students were able to exercise their right to vote.

During the 2004 election, many residents waited in line for hours after the official time to close the polls in order to vote. The early voting option this year should prevent a repeat of those long lines, and we would encourage residents to consider taking advantage of that option.

But wait until after Candidates Night.