To the Journal editor:

On Oct. 12, the Marquette County League of Women Voters hosted candidate forums for the Marquette City Commission and the Marquette Board of Light and Power.

We want to thank all the candidates who participated: Dave Campana, Jerry Irby and John Sonderegger for the MBLP (Douglas McMahon was not able to participate but sent a statement); and Margaret Brumm, Jessica Hanley, Cody Mayer, Paul Schloegel, and Sarah Wiensch Reynolds for city commission.

All came well prepared and ready for serious presentation.

Often, when there are not state or national elections, local elections get overlooked by citizens. But these are the races whose outcomes will most directly affect our day-to-day lives, and where our vote can make a visible difference.

If you missed the forum, it is viewable on the League of Women Voters Marquette County YouTube channel; a direct link is available on our Facebook and website pages. You can also read candidates’ statements for these positions at the league’s online voter guide Vote411.org.

The city of Marquette is a pilot site for a new option for voting that will go statewide next year.

There will be early voting from Nov. 2-5 5 from 8 a.m – 4 p.m. at the Peter White Public Library downstairs studio room. Voters from any precinct in the city of Marquette can vote early and have their vote tabulated.

The option of voting in person on election day Nov. 7 at your precinct site will still be available. Absentee ballot voting is also still available. You can obtain absentee ballot applications and ballots from the city clerk’s office and return them up to and including election day.

They will be tabulated on election day along with election day in-person voting. However you do it, please vote! Be a voice in the governance of your home.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.

We provide information about the voting process, hold candidate forums, sponsor voter registration drives and publish voter guides. We do not support or oppose any candidates.