I’ve always exercised my right to vote because I believe strongly that my vote is the most powerful voice I have as an American.

But I’ve never taken advantage of early voting, frankly because I’ve never trusted that my vote, when not cast on the officially designated Election Day, would be counted. I feared it might fall through the cracks or be tossed into a corner until well after the election results are signed, sealed and delivered. I always figured we have a designated day to vote, so why do we need more time? Just get to the polls on Election Day and do your civic duty!

But I changed my mind after I cast my ballot at an early voting location last week. What I found there was a very well-run system staffed by a group of dedicated poll workers. I received the same ballot that I would get on Election Day, voted in a private booth, and placed my ballot into the same type of secure ballot collection machine found at the polls on Election Day. I left feeling positive that my vote would be cared for with the same respect as if I had cast it on Nov. 6.

I realize now that early voting has lots of positives: more hours and days, including Saturdays; shorter lines; and the convenience of choosing a day that works with my schedule to vote. Once I cast my vote, I realized another benefit: the political phone calls stopped. In my book, that’s incentive enough to vote early in future elections.

Mary Ann Manning

Whispering Pines