Today is election day. It may not seem like it, but voters will be going to the polls to decide important issues all over the nation. I looked for an article that provides an overview of these races, and found none. However, Rachel Maddow did a wonderful segment that does, so here it is.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Falling under Rachel’s radar is the primary election for Oregon’s 1st Congressional District. Because Oregon has the wisdom to have vote by mail with paper ballots for all elections, I cast my vote for Brad Avakian over a week ago, but I will have no problem supporting the winner, because even the least progressive among them is more progressive than most of Congress. That’s what happens when progressives get behind progressive Democrats and work for them at the grass roots level instead of sniveling that the parties are the same.

Wherever you are, if there is an election in your area tomorrow, please vote. Voting is both your privilege and your duty. Were voting not critically important, Republicans would not put so much effort into taking people’s right to vote away.

People who do not vote deserve Republican rule.