I want to remind you of an important event coming up on June 10. This is something that should not be missed. It is an adults-only experience, with a minimum age limit of 18 years. This fantastic opportunity does not present itself very often. On June 10, I ask you to appreciate this event, respect it, and respond to it. What is it?
I’m talking about the primary elections held wherever there are two
Joe Mackor more people of the same party running for the same office. This is the second year in the series of two when all 124 seats are up for re-election in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Of these, 45 districts will hold primary elections on June 10. This is also a year where 22 of the 46 Senate seats will be on the primary ballot. In addition, three of our six federal Congressional districts and one Senate seat will be represented on the June 10 ballot.
Why do I repeat June 10 over and over again? I want to stress how crucial this primary is! Every person who is elected has a certain amount of impact on your life. Laws and policy decisions can relate directly to you (traffic laws or tax changes), or they may affect your child’s teacher, or your church property, or some other area where you would have to face the consequences of new laws. You need to know how the person you vote for will respond to key issues. If you are voting for an incumbent, you need to know his voting record as well.
Some people think that they don’t need to vote in a primary election; they just need to go to the polls in November. Often, the real test comes in a primary, when we have the opportunity to narrow the playing field. By voting for people who think like you, you gain power within the political system. By electing the right candidates, Christians are directly involved in shaping the future of our state and our country, because our elected officials influence the culture by the laws they make.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Christians must get involved in the public square. We must study the records and examine the heart values of the candidates. We must trust our belief in Christ to influence the decision for whom we vote. We must encourage and support candidates who believe in Christlike values and who vote accordingly.
This is not a partisan issue. This is a survival issue. In order for Christianity and the family to survive tomorrow’s culture, a vote for values must be counted. Your vote must be counted, and it needs to count on June 10.