My mother, Peg Howard, had strong opinions.  She would say, “I would never tell you what to do but I’d like to make a suggestion.” She would say this in such a way that her suggestion often sounded more like a command.

In that same vein, I would never tell you that you have to vote in the upcoming primary and general elections. However, in a very “Peg-like” manner, I might say, “It’s incredibly important to vote! Every woman deserves to be seen and heard.  Your vote matters.  I think you should exercise your right to vote!”

My husband received his Mail-In Ballot weeks ago but mine never arrived. After reading Wendy Green’s article, I was inspired to take action.

I visited the vote411.org website, where in a few simple steps I was able to check my voter’s registration, see a list of candidates for all the races, and discover upcoming debates in my area. I then called the Washington County’s Board of Election to learn why I hadn’t received my ballot in the mail. When that question couldn’t be resolved, I jumped in the car and drove to the five miles to the Washington County Board of Elections, located at 17718 Virginia Avenue.

There, after validating my identity, all of my questions were quickly addressed and resolved in a matter of minutes. I learned that although I had registered for a mail-in ballot in 2024, I had not checked the box on the form to indicate that I would like to receive mail-in ballots for future elections.  I was able to complete that form and before I left, the helpful administrative clerk issued me a mail-in ballot and encouraged me to visit the Elections Board’s website if I had additional questions.

Upon arriving back at my home, I visited the Washington County Board of Election’s website, which has several helpful links including:

• View My Ballot
• Local Candidate List
• Ballot Drop Box Locations
• 2026 Early Voting Locations
• And More!

The good news is that there’s still time for voters to register and lots of options of how to vote.  In fact, today while at the Board of Elections, I learned that Same Day Voter’s Registration is an option and that early voting dates for the Gubernatorial Election in Washington County are June 11- June 18 and election day is June 23, 2026.

I visited several other websites to learn more about the candidates’ positions on issues important to me. Then, feeling knowledgeable and empowered, I completed and mailed my ballot on the same afternoon!  All in all, it was a great day and I felt good knowing like all good citizens, I played my part in our democracy.