All registered voters in Sullivan County have the right to cast their ballot, but unfortunately sometimes it takes longer than they want. Even with the addition of on-sight ballot printing and state-of the-art scanners, voters in many election districts across the county had excrutiating long waits at the polls last November. 

Depending on the town and polling location, this wait time can be seen reaching up to an hour. Recently the County Legislature allocated much-needed money to the Sullivan County Board of Elections for expansion of services to hopefully alleviate this issue.

We recognize the hard work that the Sullivan County Board of Elections does in running an election and know first-hand it is no easy job.

We sincerely hope the pre-planning that is going on right now can make a difference. Early voting, which will go on from October 28 through November 5 is one option voters can use. But it does mean a drive to Monticello which sometimes can be inconvenient for residents.

We also realize that long wait times can frustrate the electorate, with some voters even walking away. We don’t want this to happen.

We urge all those who are registered this Fall to vote! With a number of the pivotal local races on the ballot this election season it is more important than ever to get involved. Remember, your vote truly does count, especially on the local level, where many elections have been decided by a single vote.

We also urge all registered voters to stay engaged.Knowledge is power and an informed electorate has the ability to make sound judgments in regards to who they elect to run our village, town and county government. Please research your candidates before entering the polling place.

Beginning in October, the Democrat will be running our “Meet the Candidates” statements to educate you on where they stand.

Please do your best to be aware of their ideas and policies to be absolutely sure you make the most informed decision.

In the coming weeks, the Democrat will also be conducting interviews for candidates in contested races so that our readers stay in the know. Together, we can ensure that this election season is efficient and timely.

We certainly hope that the wait to vote does not deter anyone.