I hear it all the time …

“I should have voted, but I didn’t. I can’t deal with the politics.”

I’m here to tell you, there is no more important thing that you can do right now than vote in the upcoming election.

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Michigan voters will decide who will be the state’s new governor, attorney general and secretary of state, as well as the outcome of three important proposals. Many state House and Senate seats also are up, as are two seats on the State Supreme Court. Across the country, more than 800 legislators will be elected this year.

Many voters don’t realize that when they cast their ballot, they are not only electing officials for the upcoming term, but possibly setting the stage for one party to control things well into the future.

Why? Because of gerrymandering.

Gerrymandering is defined as manipulating voting boundaries to favor one party or class. Currently, the Michigan legislature is responsible for drawing boundaries, subject to the Governor’s veto power.