There is an important election coming up.  If you read all the way to the end of this post, I will tell you exactly how you should vote!

The November 4th election is very important.  In order to vote, you must register.  The deadline to register to vote in Polk County is Monday, October 6th.   You can register easily online through the Polk County Supervisor of Elections webpage.  You can also call our Polk County Supervisor of Elections at 863-534-5888.

On November 4th, we will be voting on several important statewide offices and constitutional amendments.  Here is just a sample of what we will be voting on:

• Governor
• State Attorney General
• Chief Financial Officer
• Commissioner of Agriculture
• US Representative
• State Senator & State Representative
• Three Constitutional Amendments

Hopefully, this short list communicates to you the importance of this upcoming election.

Marijuana – to smoke or not to smoke? 

Of the three proposed amendments, number 2 has been the most fiercely debated.  Much has been made about the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the “medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician.”   This is an important issue.  I will not pretend to be an expert on this amendment.  Our Sheriff, Grady Judd, has come out in strong opposition to this amendment.  Attorney John Morgan (‘For the People’) has contributed millions in support of this amendment.  (Personally, these last two statements tell me all I need to know.  But you might be different.)

I strongly encourage you to take a minute to read through some (or all) of the information regarding this amendment.

• Here is a booklet published by the Florida Division of Elections that summarizes the three amendments that we will be voting on.
• Vote No On 2 is a website filled with information designed to get you to vote AGAINST the marijuana amendment.
• United for Care is a website filled with information designed to get you to vote FOR the marijuana amendment.

Let Me Tell You How You Should Vote

This is the part you have been waiting for. Here is my ‘voter’s guide.’  It is short and sweet.

Be an unselfish voter.

Too often we vote for what we want.  We vote for the person we like the best.  We vote for the issue that will put more money in our pockets or solve our problems.  My advice to you is to vote in the way that will best help your neighbor.  In other words, think about others when you vote.   Be an unselfish voter.  An unselfish voter recognizes that the needs of others are more important than his own needs.  An unselfish voter is willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.  An unselfish voter recognizes that sometimes higher taxes are necessary.  An unselfish voter recognizes that sometimes good programs have to be cut.

Anyway, that’s just my opinion.

I am Stephen Simpson and I approved this message.