To the editor:

Last week, the world saw Ole Miss at its finest. Thousands of news reporters introduced the world to Oxford and our great state.  Batesville played a major role in this endeavor, as we housed hundreds of reporters in our facilities. Now the candidates and the Secret Service agents are gone.  The barricades are down. Traffic has returned to normal.

Now that the debate is over, the real tasks for Mississippians begin. Voter registration ends this week. It will then be time to make contact with friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and fellow church members to get them to the polls on November 4.

Remind the individuals you know that they have until 5p.m. Today, Friday, to register to vote. Registration may be achieved at your local courthouse in the Circuit Clerk’s office.  Registrants may also call their county Democratic and Republican parties, or contact the campaigns themselves. The Secretary of State also provides information at 1-800-829-6786. If your address or name has changed you must re-register by Friday.

We are electing the President and members of Congress. We are electing state and local judges and other officials. These folks will address our troubled economy, joblessness, an endless war in Iraq, foreign relations, heathcare access, terrorism, environmental concerns, and many more issues affecting our lives. Register to vote, Encourage people to vote on November 4th. We learned in the 2000 elections that every vote is an important vote! Yours counts!

Whitney Leigh Malone

Batesville