I mean no offense to my fellow voter. She's no different than most of us. There are a lot of issues and candidates on the ballot. It's difficult to to know for a certainty whether Judge Jane Doe should be retained or a whether a bond issue should be approved. I shudder when I think about about the first time I voted. I was away from home in college and had no sense of the local politics. I felt bad that I wasn't better informed. I vowed I would not take my right for granted the next time I voted.

It's hard, though, for most of us to separate fact from fiction in the political season. There are ads in newspapers, on television and radio. Our mailboxes are stuffed with political fliers. Some candidates walk the neighborhoods. There are political forums in many communities and Web sites to visit. In the end, how much of it is noise and how much of it is useful information?

One of the benefits of my job is that our editorial board meets with a lot of political candidates, office holders and other people of influence. There's no hiding behind a soundbite or carefully orchestrated campaign. Most I've met are bright, capable leaders. A few simply were not ready for prime time.

Most people don't get that opportunity. So their opinions will be shaped by campaign ads, Web sites and the occasional meet-and-greet. Their opinions will be influenced by news coverage of candidates or office holders.

Perhaps we never get a clear picture. A good many incumbents win simply because they're the current office holders. Worse, some people run unopposed.

Alas, our system of campaigns and politics is imperfect. But our right to vote is a cherished freedom. Do your homework and vote on Nov. 4. Better yet, vote early and save yourself from the eleventh-hour insanity.

---

Marjorie Cortez, who is a shameless political junkie, is a Deseret News editorial writer. E-mail her at marjorie@desnews.com.