|The choice is yours

|The choice is yours

^ Next Tuesday, the county’s voters will be asked to choose :a president, a congressman in a brand new district, as well as ■io approve or reject three bond issues and one amendement to the Virginia constitution and to decide whether Rappahannock ;County should have elected school boards.

Last week, this newspaper offered its opinions of the candidates and questions before the state’s voters. This week, we urge you to vote on Nov. 3. Regardless of your political affiliation, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the endorsements made by this newspaper last week, we urge 'you to vote. Z The presidential race between the three major candidates, lias been history in the making, with a once-popular incumbent Jn the underdog role and the independent perhaps playing the spoiler. You’ll make the decision that historians and political :«cientist8 will wrap careers around for decades to come. Z The race for the 10th District congressional seat has been the subject for news stories and editorial opinions in the papers of the district for months. Though the race has shifted however slightly from the decorum each candidate had promised, both candidates’ views on the issues have been placed before the voters. “ The bond issues before the voters represent a significant shift from the traditional system of financing in Virginia and, if ^approved, place an additional burden on taxpayers. They are •important decisions that will affect many institutions and ^ people and the way government raises and spends money in Sthe coming years. * * * A lot of time, effort and money has been spent by activists ton all sides of these important issues. But regardless of the •campaign rhetoric and predictions, the final choice still rests •with the voters of the Commonwealth. : They will make their decision by participating in the only poll that counts — next Tuesday’s election. * We urge our readers to carefully consider their vote. Z As has become something of a tradition in the press, we “offer the following examples of the importance of voter participation in democratic elections. It was originally sent to Ann Landers by an election judge in Missouri, who had copied it from his judge’s manual. * In 1646, one vote game Oliver Cromwell control of t England.

In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be ^executed.

In 1776, one vote gave America and English language — * instead of German. £ In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.

In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. * In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States.

In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the ; Nazi Party in Germany.

In 1941, one vote saved the Selective Service from ^abolition—just weeks before Pearl Harbor.

We urge our readers — and our fellow voters — to go to the polls on Tuesday. The choice — and the decision — is yours. Exercise your right to vote.

It counts.