THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Today is an important election day. Gov. George Allen will either get the legislative majority he needs to continue turning Virginia in the direction he favors or voters will leave Democrats in charge to Allen's chagrin. At stake are jobs, education, taxes, the future.
Candidates have made their cases, run their campaign ads, knocked on doors, planned strategy, raised and spent millions. But now, it still all comes down to individual voters.
Across the state, starting in the crisp chill before dawn and ending after the early November darkness falls, they will come by ones and twos to the school gym or library or armory to pull a lever or punch a card. After all the hoopla and stridency, claims and counterclaims, citizens will make a choice.
Each candidate, each party is well aware that the bottom line is getting out the vote. And that isn't as easy as it ought to be. We live in a time of cynicism and disaffection when many people distrust politics and politicians. They think elections don't matter and their votes don't count.
If that's your mood, you're wrong. Elections still matter. This one matters a lot. It will determine Virginia's direction for the next two years, and maybe a lot longer. And every vote counts. Many races will be decided by a few hundred votes, maybe even a few dozen.
If you stay at home today, you have decided to let someone else choose your future. Don't make that mistake. It's your state, your tax dollars, your future up for grabs. If you want a say in what happens next, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Get out and vote. by CNB