Voters are many and they are ready, even anxious to cast ballots for the Nov. 4 presidential election.
The scariest economic scenario in modern times has proven an immeasurable, but decidedly powerful accelerant for an already high level of voter interest in this decision-making to fill the White House.
With the exception of World War II, times of war always intensify presidential elections, and almost always prove somewhat polarizing.
Mix in numerous issues involving our response to 9/11 and enduring issues involving guns, religion in government and abortion, to cite a few, and the political landscape seems to literally bubble.
Closer to home, every Rutherford County voter is offered a choice in representation in the Tennessee House of Representatives, for U.S. Senate and about half for Tennessee Senate.
The state legislative races have generally been quite robust, providing just more reason for citizens to sign up to vote and actually to cast ballots.
The economic turmoil of 2008 that has become more violent and unpredictable in recent weeks pushes even the most laidback, apathetic or usually disconnected citizens into registering to vote.
Reflecting a national phenomenon, Rutherford County set a record for voter registration with more than 145,000 of us signing up to cast a ballot.
In a county roughly estimated at 250,000 with some 50,000 or so underage, the registration number would appear to reflect some 75 percent of our voting age population.
Indications are a lot of those registered voters are going to use their franchise.
When early voting for the Nov. 4 election started Wednesday morning, voters were literally lined up around the corner to cast their ballot. Those lines have persisted at almost every early voting location although the ques have generally moved fairly smoothly and quickly.
Voters should give strong consideration to early voting options as the high number of those registered indicates any voting effort is going to require some time as compared to the usual fast in-and-out on most of the election dates this year.
With the issues and critical developments facing our nation, a small investment in time to vote is certainly worthwhile.
Voters are offered major choices and would be well served to help decide the course of our state and nation at a most worrisome point in history.
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