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From my memories of growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, I went with my parents to the voting booth on Election Day. But I think we had several years of breaks between elections, or maybe it seemed that way because I was a young child and teenager. Now it appears since 2007, we are voting for someone every year whether it be the president, governor, etc. Once again, we are about to do it. Election 2023.

In Virginia, we’ll be electing incumbents or new people for the office of state senate and house of delegates in the General Assembly from various districts. In Charlotte County as well as other counties we are electing sheriffs, circuit court clerks and other positions. So much is at stake. We have a fentanyl problem which has stretched from national to state into our local towns and cities, gun violence is through the roof, mental illness demands our time with resources and funding to support them and Virginia’s budget needs to be finalized.

When you go to the polls on November 7, with prayer, carefully consider who you will vote into office. Think about the candidate that best reflects your values. For me, I often find points of view on issues from both parties that I agree with. Even if your candidate does win, he or she represents the ones who didn’t vote for them as well as the ones who did. You must make your voices heard at the ballot box. With constant prayer, vote your conscience.

Judy Moore, a tour guide at The Central High Museum lives in Wylliesburg and can be reached at v5agabond2@gmail.com.