It’s Election Day in the United States and voters across the country are united in their right to rock the vote. The NPJ asked its readers why they felt it’s important to vote.

Doug Ireland: The presidential choices overshadow important local, regional and statewide decisions. Among them are the opportunity to strengthen higher education in Louisiana by supporting Amendment 2. Voters can choose to fund badly-needed road repairs now that we have an efficiently-run Parish Council form of government, which tracks where every public dollar goes, and responsibly balances the budget. We can support our local school system. Our distinguished district attorney, Van Kyzar, seeks a court of appeals judgeship. We have congressional choices to make, selecting representatives whose influence will probably be more powerful and vital than ever during the next presidential administration. America runs on the will of the people and we should not casually discard a right that billions of people around the world crave. We must not miss chances to improve ourselves. Many await our mandate on Tuesday’s ballot.

Carey Carruth Hamblin: It’s important for us 70s, 80s and early 90s babies to vote because we know how things can be. Younger people only know wartime. They’re distorted in their view of America. Older generations know the importance of voting already. It’s the younger people that are just confused about why their vote matters. Now I know popular vote doesn’t win, but your vote DOES COUNT FOR SOMETHING!

David Young: Voting and Jury Duty are part of being a citizen of the U.S.

Johnny Wessler: For freedom to work, citizens have to be responsible. Voting is a right that epitomizes freedom. Our votes are private, so no one can suffer retaliation for voting their conscious.

It’s the local elections that will have the most impact on our day-to-day lives, but there seems to be much more interest in the Presidential race. Most people will be surprised, that in addition to Trump, Clinton and Johnson, there are 10 more candidates who have qualified for your vote.

My wish is that people would educate themselves before voting. Too many people make their decision on one factor (race, marriage equality, etc). While those things are important issues, we are voting for people that have the ability to take away many other rights and implement taxes.

Once elected, our representatives don’t need a public referendum. When government is given this power, we’re also giving them the authority to use force to enforce compliance.

Vote if you love your freedom. It’s your responsibility.

Suzanne Parker: If you don’t vote you have no right to complain. Voting is a right. Apathy is a pitiful thing.

‪Judy Gibson Kavanagh: Voting is my duty as an American citizen. You can’t complain if you don’t vote!

‪Mary Blanchard Servello: It’s our responsibility and duty as a citizen to cast an informed vote.

‪Susan Dollar: The strength of a democracy is based on/in the people participating in it – voting, serving jury duty, running for office, community service. It’s the voter participation that determines the health of our democracy. As Lincoln described it: it’s a government of, and for, and by the people. Add in the Bill of Rights that our Founding Fathers established and that’s America in a nutshell. If you’re patriotic, you vote!

‪Davina McClain: We have a duty to each other and to our country to express our support for who should lead the country and what the laws should be.

‪Reondrick Owens: Despite popular belief, voting is not for your country. It’s for YOU. Our government was founded with the idea of FOR the people BY the people. We the people are electing those that we deem worthy of governing US. Your voice can be heard. You were given the very power that other countries dream of, and all you have to do is ask yourself one simple question. Who do YOU want for YOU?

‪Javonti Thomas: So many people have fought for our right to vote and have a voice in our community. It’s our duty to honor that commitment and vote.

‪Joe Sers: It’s the one great equalizer and epitome of democracy; one person, one vote, no matter who you are.

‪Junior Johnson: I feel the most important reason of all is out of respect and honor to the hundreds of thousands of our brave military personnel who died and an equal number maimed for life while protecting our Country to give us this Constitutional right to vote. Regardless, you need to make an effort to research the most qualified candidate. I believe there should be qualifications to this right. We must have a license to marry, to drive, to hunt and fish. People should be educated and licensed to vote. Although we have the RIGHT, that’s what Amendments are for. We keep the right to vote, but should be licensed and educated on how to do it.

‪Doris Salard Whatley: TOO many have fought and died in order to ensure our right to vote, along with our many freedoms from tyranny. It’s a dishonor to them if we don’t exercise that right!

‪Dottie Gill: I was raised that voting is something that’s a hard won fight in this country! My dad and uncles fought in wars for our freedom and we need to stand up by voting! And my son. It’s important we have a voice. Sadly, I feel we are losing our voice in this country.

Natchitoches Parish Polling Places: