Get ready for the elections

The elections are about a month away. The nation will elect a new President, plus other officials from the federal to local level. Here are some ways to prepare:

• Make sure you are registered to vote. Deadlines are quickly approaching in some states. Learn more here: vote.gov or vote.org. Make a voting plan with help from the League of Women Voters’ Vote 411 website.

• Research the candidates. Find out about candidates’ positions at the Vote411 website and the Vote Smart website.

• Get active. If you want to get involved in the political process, the book “Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives” by Sami Sage and Emily Amick, is a great place to start. Using astrology as an analogy, the book provides tips on participating in challenging conversations, profiles political activists, offers a civic personality quiz, delivers a primer on basic functions of the government and lets you create your own civic action plan.

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