Op-Ed by Rev. Ed Roden-Lucero, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and co-chair of EPISO

[Excerpt below]

The commemoration of Abraham Lincoln’s birth has just passed. As election time approaches in Texas, his words, which follow, summon us to participate in the democratic process: “This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.”

Locally, much has been said about El Paso’s historically low voter turnout. Lincoln’s words are a reminder of democracy’s gift: Voters own the process and the result. Elected officials are not their own boss. Those who are elected to public office are governed by those who vote. The greater the number of people that vote, the greater is the level of accountability required of those who are elected.

Understand the Issues, Know the Candidates, Vote, El Paso Times