Early voting is a great convenience for many, but this year, we think it might be worth waiting until Election Day before you cast your vote.

On the presidential scene, world events are leading to a new world crisis nearly every day, while economic issues continue to dog us domestically. We need a president that will lead us through these issues with confidence, and we should get a chance to see how the contenders react to a variety of situations during the next couple of months.

On the local level, even though it's been relatively quiet so far, we need to be ever alert to ensure we vote for leadership that can effectively lead us through the next four years. If this election is true to form, issues will crop up at the last minute that could affect your vote.

One of your best chances to see the local candidates in action will be Oct. 17, when The Covington News and the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce will hold a forum for all county candidates. The forum will held be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Newton College and Career Academy, 144 Ram Drive, Covington.

The forum will be moderated by Covington News Publisher Charles Hill Morris and chamber President Hunter Hall.

We suggest you hold your vote until you've heard straight from the candidates' months what each of them proposes for our county's future.

If you can't make it out, we'll have full video from the event at CovNews.com in the days following the forum.

Please vote wisely this year; your decision will affect the future of all of us who live here in Newton County for years to come.