Maybe this has happened to you. Your ballot comes in the mail and when you open it, your face falls – there are so many positions and issues to vote on.

At the top of the ballot are some of the major races. These aren’t a problem. You know whom you want to vote for there. And you know how you feel about some of the major initiatives that have been in the news. But the rest of them, you aren’t sure.

You want to be an informed voter, so you put your ballot aside until you have time to research all those other races and issues. Time goes by, and you just don’t get to that research. All of a sudden you have run out of time, but you think that you can’t mail in your ballot if you don’t mark it for every race, so … you just don’t vote.

This doesn’t have to be what happens.

First, recognize that all of us lead busy lives and none of us is perfect. And although it is preferable that you do the research and fill out your ballot completely, your vote will still count for the positions and races you do vote for, even if it is only one or two.

If you have time, you can check websites like VOTE411.org or Ballotpedia.org. But the most important thing you can do is to vote. Just put your ballot in the drop box or mailbox before Nov. 6!

Martha Burke

Voter Services

League of Women Voters, Kitsap