We’re down to the final days before Tuesday’s election and hope that all registered voters in Lafayette County and Mississippi plan to cast a ballot.

Early signs suggest that voter turnout in Mississippi will be light this presidential election. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says the indicator is absentee ballots coming in at a slower pace than they have for the last two presidential elections.

He attributes the lack of voting interest to voter apathy over the two candidates – Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

It’s true that the choices in this election have a lot to be desired. We have spent more time in the closing months of the election listening to the candidates talk about scandal rather than the issues.

But America’s strength is our ability to freely vote and choose candidates. This freedom should not be taken lightly.

We hope that Mississippi voters, and voters in Lafayette County, will make sure to exercise their right at the polls this election.

If traveling next week, voters should get to the courthouse and deliver an absentee vote. If feeling apathy toward this election, voters should recognize that every vote is important.