Doing our Civic Duty

The front page of yesterday's Harbor Light Newspaper pointed out another place where "gaming" the voter registration system could impact our community.

We are all entitled by our Constitution to request a trial by a jury of our peers (should we ever find ourselves accused of a crime). Juries are summoned from among the pool of registered voters of a community. It is how the judge seats a jury that reflects a defendant's peers.

Yesterday, the newspaper reported that 4,000 jury questionnaires will be mailed to people who certified they were residents of Emmet County by registering to vote here. The law requires those questionnaires to be completed and returned within 10 days. A friendly heads up if you have your mail forwarded...that is a tight turnaround.

If you registered to vote here you certified you are a resident, and it is your civic duty to serve on a jury in Emmet County if called and seated. (No one really loves this part of the deal, but we all have to do our part and you can learn a lot in a jury box!)

Voting is a right AND a responsibility. When you register to vote you committed to fulfilling your obligations to our community on Election Day and beyond.

A huge thanks to all of you who continue to engage in and support the conversation about residency and its impact on voting and taxes. It means a lot.