On Saturday, October 22, residents will go to the polls with an opportunity to cast ballots in a number of races with long-term significance for this city and state. Among the offices voters will be choosing someone to fill are governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and a host of legislative and judicial seats.

It would be a huge mistake to let weekend errands, fall chores, college football games, golf tournaments or sheer laziness get in the way of casting your vote for a better city and state.

Before you go into the election booth Saturday, take the time to research the candidates and learn everything you can about their previous performance in public office. Learn how they voted in the past on issues of critical importance to you and your neighbors. Take the time to tune in to televised debates and read everything you can about these candidates and what individuals and organizations are promoting their candidacies. Look closely at their campaign contributors and the issues and polices they have supported in the past.

If you are not happy with the three-tiered system of public education in New Orleans or the inequitable distribution of resources in post-Katrina New Orleans, look closely at what candidates are most responsible for creating legislation, casting votes and supporting other elected officials that contributed to conditions in the city and state and cast your vote accordingly.

As a tax-paying citizen with the power to cast a vote for the candidate or candidates of your choice, don’t shy away from calling or emailing a candidate if you have questions about his or her stand on a particular issue. That’s your right and privilege as a citizen living in a democratic republic.

Challenge your friends, loved ones and neighbors to get out of their comfort zones and engage candidates about the issues that affect their families, neighborhoods and communities. Don’t be shy or apologetic about presenting tough or awkward questions to candidates and their campaign staffs. If they can’t stand the heat, they’re definitely in the wrong profession.

Remember, hands that once picked cotton can now pick presidents, governors, lawmakers, judges and mayors. Hands that once changed diapers can now change the course of a city, state and nation.

It all starts with you and your commitment to making this city, state and nation a batter place to live for you, your children and your children’s children.

Please remember to go out and vote on October 22.

This article was originally published in the October 17, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper