As someone writing a volunteer local news blog, I am asking you, as one of my readers, to do something.  How about just taking a few minutes to think about what is most important to you?

That may appear to be a simple exercise, but I would argue few of us ever do it.  What is most important to you in your everyday life?

For most people, the first idea that comes to mind involves the people closest to you – spouses, children, parents, siblings, other relatives and close friends. Those relationships form the circle of our everyday lives.  Another piece of this is the place where we live, our neighborhoods, our local community and our religious faith.

If you truly believe all these things are of high importance, it is time to stop being a bystander and begin to have a say in issues important to you.

In a matter of just a few days after my posting this piece, you will have an opportunity to have some input into your police force, fire department, streets & roads, parks, zoning and local budget decisions.  Yes, I am referring to your vote.

If you are a registered voter and live within the city limits of Fishers, you have an opportunity to participate in the process of selecting members of your Fishers City Council.  In about half the city, there is a contested race for city council in your district.  In the entire city, there is a contested election for city council at-large.

Although there are a number of uncontested offices up for election in Fishers, including mayor, city judge and city clerk, everyone has a chance to have a voice in how your city is run through the city council.  However, data on early voting indicate there is not much interest in our local city election.

Historically, Fishers has had very low voter turnout numbers in our local elections, in both the primary and general election.  In the early days of living in Fishers, I can recall cycles when the election was cancelled because there were no contested races.

You can verity your registration, find your polling place (and early voting locations), as well as candidates on your ballot, by using this link.

for several years, I visited Washington D.C. once a year, lobbying for a nonprofit organization.  In order to do my volunteer work, I used many taxis to get around the area of the U.S. Capitol.

Nearly all the cab drivers were recent immigrants to America, from places such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Each cab I used had a number of stickers affixed to the front saying “I voted.”  The vote has tremendous value to these people coming to America from other parts of the world.  Why do so many of us born and raised here not bother to vote?

I would strongly argue that voting is one of the most important civic duties we have as American citizens.  I have never failed to vote in any election once I had reached the minimum age to do so.  It hasn’t always been easy to vote, but I always found a way.

So, my pitch to you, which I make every election cycle, is to vote.  There is early voting, absentee voting if you qualify and there is always election day, November 5th.

If you say you know nothing about the candidates, I have an answer to that.  I sat down and recorded interviews with all the Fishers City Council candidates.  If I, as a volunteer blogger and podcaster, can spend countless hours recording and producing these podcasts, the least you can do is listen to the candidates you may potentially choose.  You can find all the podcasts at this link.

Think again about what is most important to you, closest to you.  I believe you will realize that your city government, the closest government to you, impacts nearly everything you value in your everyday life.  Take the time, find out about the candidates, and vote!