In 2008, lines of eager voters wrapped around the Newton County Administration Building each day of early voting during the presidential election.

This year, state budget cut proposals for education, including a possible cut to 4-H, lit up the phone and internet lines to our State Capitol, leaving senators and representatives with full voice mail boxes and overflowing e-mail inboxes.

Locally, parents and students packed our Board of Education meetings over issues like middle school sports and theme schools.

The county budget is still being hammered out in front of large crowds at each work session and meeting.

While the presidential election is important, surely these issues we’ve been so excited over here in Georgia and Newton County prove that what goes on right here at home is even more important to our daily lives, right?

Yet where are the lines? I know it’s only the first week of early voting, but we’re spending a lot of money during each election making sure that it’s easier than ever before for every citizen to vote… and yet where are we?

I haven’t cast my primary ballot yet, either, because I’m still researching a few candidates to make a last decision or two. Once I have the last field marked on my sample ballot, I’ll be ready to breeze through early voting.

What’s your excuse?

Not registered to vote yet? No problem: you can register through June 21.

Any US citizen at least 17 ½ years old can register in the county in which they legally reside, except for those "serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude" anyone who has been "found mentally incompetent by a judge," according to the voter registration form.

You can register on the first floor of the Newton County Administration Building or print the form at the Georgia Secretary of State’s website and mail it in.

Not yet 18? Help others make an informed vote.

One of my 4-H’ers has been challenged to create a Facebook page linking all the local candidates’ fan pages, websites, and news articles to help Newton County residents make their decisions for the local races. What can you do to help someone make an educated decision?

Parents, I also urge you to get your children involved.

Whether it’s simply taking a toddler into the voting booth with you so they see you voting, or encouraging school-aged children to research the candidates, it’s never too early to encourage citizenship in a child.

Even a 1st grader has issues important to them — just ask. It may be playground equipment, how often she gets to go to art class, or even how crowded her classroom was this year.

If you’re in districts 1, 3 or 5, the next step is to find out who is on the ballot for school board and help your child find out how each candidate feels about that issue.

Districts 2 and 4 are voting for the Board of Commissioners, which makes decisions about lots of issues kids are interested in, like new libraries and parks, library hours, the recreation department, 4-H, and Keep Covington Newton Beautiful.

While things like taxes, tags, zoning and the landfill affect kids, too, chances are they won’t be thinking of those for a few years yet.

Help them to send e-mails, make phone calls, or write letters expressing their concerns and asking questions.

Finally, the excuse I hear a lot is that people aren’t sure who is even on the ballot, so they’re hesitant to go vote.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s website makes it very easy to find your ballot.

Log in at www.sos.georgia.gov/MVP to see information on every state and federal candidate, as well as sample ballots which include our local candidates.

To find information on local candidates, visit www.covnews.com, then click on the tab for "Local News" and "Election 2010." At the end of each candidate’s article are ways to contact them for further information.

Don’t forget to purchase your discount Six Flags tickets, drop off pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, or sign your 4-H’er up for summer activities while you’re in the building for early voting. You’ll find us on the second floor.