The people who run the Georgia Legislature have been wandering off in some strange and contradictory directions over the past few years.

When you consider the mood swings that seem to have affected our lawmakers, you might even think that they’ve gone off their medication.

Starting Monday, Columbia County voters can go to the Board of Elections office in Evans to cast a ballot in the July 31 primary.

It’s an important election. In fact, on the purely local level, voter participation arguably is more important than in November’s presidential election. After all, local voters are unlikely to sway a nationwide outcome, but they are the only ones with a voice in local elections.

As advance voting in the July 31 primary begins Monday, candidates undoubtedly will start ramping up their efforts to persuade voters to pick them out of the crowd.

But who wins and who loses, in some cases, will be determined by factors that have nothing to do with the candidate.

For example, the two races we’re hearing most about are the sheriff’s race in Richmond County, and the Republican primary for the 12th District U.S. congressional seat. Political wonks know how those races are linked, but I’d bet casual voters don’t have a clue.

Editor:

In all industrialized countries, residents and citizens have identification cards by law. Whether you are a language-limited or minority person, a “voter ID” card is a logical document, especially under a government that provides public services and so-called entitlements. A 10-year Census gives a democratic government a basis for a fair representation.