Editorial: Go Vote!

All eligible students, teachers, parents, and community members should make an effort to participate in the upcoming midterm election on Tuesday, November 6th. Before anyone casts a ballot they need to be registered to vote. In Colorado, voters can register to vote online through the Office of the Secretary of State, or in person at the local voter registration office (in Pitkin County it is on Main Street and questions can be directed to [email protected]). Voter registration closes online on October 29th, however, anyone eligible to vote can still register in person through election day, so it’s not too late if you don’t register online!

To register to vote, voters need to bring an accepted form of identification, which can be a Colorado Driver’s License or ID card. Go to pitkinvotes.com for information on how to obtain an acceptable form of ID if you do not already have one.

There is a fairly large ballot in Pitkin County this year, and all voters should try to research the different measures so they are properly educated when they cast their ballot.

Aside from candidates for office, the ballot also includes measures for increasing mill levies (or property taxes) for the valley’s fire districts, RFTA and the Healthy Community Fund, among several other measures. The increased mill levies for local fire departments is likely due to the Lake Christine Fire in Basalt and El Jebel this past summer. Ballot measure 6A specifically addresses the Aspen Fire Protection District (Snowmass, Carbondale, and Basalt all have their own measures). Voting yes on 6A would help provide housing for firefighters, upgrading and maintaining safety equipment, and maintaining and training adequate staff and volunteer firefighters.

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) is also requesting increased funding through property taxes to purchase new buses with lower emissions and noise, construct and maintain bus stops and other RFTA related infrastructure to better serve the Roaring Fork Valley and reduce traffic. Voting yes on 7A supports the tax increase.  

The Skier Scribbler encourages all voters to educate themselves about all ballot measures and candidates and most importantly to make time to vote. As Americans, we are fortunate enough to have a voice in our government, and it should be treated as a duty to participate, not a burdensome obligation. The only way lawmakers are genuinely held accountable is when their constituents vote. Elections are the pillar of accountability in American politics, and The Skier Scribbler hopes that the Aspen community accepts this responsibility with the utmost diligence.