Letters: Voters have obligaton to be informed

It has long been said that it is the right and the duty of every American to vote. But there is an unwritten rule that it also is an American duty to familiarize yourself with the candidates, the policies, and the effects they have on others.

Unlike buying a car, voting can have a lasting effect not only on an individual, but on one’s community, the nation, and the world. This is a duty not to be taken lightly. But in many cases, during election time, we had a certain percentage of the people, regardless of the reason, who could not make up their minds. Their last-minute decisions on voting helped to make our election results unpredictable and surprising to many.