Have you caught any political ads? Been swamped with social media posts? Seen the campaign signs? Had a knock on your door?

If you live in the Hudson Valley, or New York, or likely any state in the union, the answer to those questions are probably yes, yes, yes and yes. It’s political season, and we’ve been inundated with messages. Unlike my headline above, it is NOT breaking news that there’s an election ahead.

Are you planning to vote? I hope so.

When you vote, you’re not just electing government officials. You and your fellow voters are expressing your needs, preferences, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction as an electorate. (www.naacpldf.org/reasons-to-vote/)
Through voting, you have the power to shape the policies and laws that govern your communities. Elected officials rely on the votes and voices of their constituents to help shape their policy decisions. (headcount.org/voter-education/why-voting-is-important-your-voice-matters)

Local elections determine the leaders who make decisions about our communities, including critical issues such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. (fairelectionscenter.org/media/why-you-need-to-vote-in-non-federal-elections/)

The election coming up has not only local implications, but state and federal ones as well. Your vote matters. Your vote counts. Your vote is just as important as my vote.

I wanted, this week, to make sure all my readers know where and when they can vote in the two weeks ahead. First and foremost, traditional in-person takes place on Tuesday, November 3, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is something to be said for going to vote that day – the almost ‘festive’ atmosphere when you vote at your ‘home’ polling place is fun.

But, if you’re like me, you’re impatient and don’t want to possibly stand in line on Election Day, you have the option of voting early, from Saturday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 1.

The times are as follows: Saturday and Sundays, Oct. 24, 25, 31 and Nov. 1 - 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 26 and 27 – noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 28 and 29 – 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 30 – 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. That’s a pretty good spread of times; it should be easy to find one that works for you.

And where are those early voting locations? There are eight of them, and any Orange County resident can vote at any of them. You just give them your address, and they’ll print the correct ballot for you.

Those locations are: Middletown Senior Center (62-80 W. Main St., Middletown), Newburgh Activity Center (401 Washington St., Newburgh), Howard Wheat Engine Company (31 Owen St., Port Jervis), Caroline Building (23 Hatfield Lane, Goshen), Village of Montgomery Senior Center (36 Bridge St., Montgomery), Monroe Town Hall (1465 Orange Turnpike, Monroe), New Windsor Community Center (555 Union Ave., New Windsor) and Warwick Senior Center (132 Kings Highway, Warwick).

Make me proud, go vote.