VOTING: Research carefully

The midterm elections are less than one month away, with the final push for support for candidates and policies. It is no surprise, then, that there is a plethora of information, misinformation, opinions, and advocacy to support or oppose the individual persons and issues.

I would like to propose that you, the electorate, refrain from accepting at face value the opinions and arguments from individual persons and advocacy groups. Instead, I encourage you to do your own research, form your own opinions, and make voting decisions based on facts and your own understanding of the issues.

Every household has, or will, receive the Idaho Voter Pamphlet from the Secretary of State’s office. In it you will find the full text of two proposed constitutional amendments and the full text of Proposition One. Please read and study them carefully. Concentrate on the meaning of the exact text and resist the temptation to read into them more than what is printed. Afterward, then consider the intended and unintended consequences of each and decide for yourself how you wish to vote.

As regards candidates for the various public offices, I again encourage you to do your own research. Go to the candidates’ web sites, read news articles regarding theirs stances on the issues, and if the candidate is an incumbent or previous officeholder review the candidate’s voting history. Please don’t rely on campaign ads or hearsay from random individuals.

I know how I will vote in November and will not attempt to sway your vote. All I ask is that you be an informed voter based on facts and your own personal stance on the issues.

Above all, exercise your constitutional right, obligation, and power to have your voice heard — Vote!

DAVID ST. AMAND

Post Falls