Hopefully, you are ready. You see the signs; you may have seen some of the candidates – live and in living color. You should have your sample ballots by now.

The only thing left to do is study the candidates and issues and vote wisely. In some circles, you have been challenged to get five people out to vote as well.

You can vote by absentee ballot (request your ballot), by early voting or by voting at your polling place on Primary Election Day, August 30.

Early voting started in Orange County on Monday, August 15 and will continue through Sunday, August 28.

In Seminole County, early voting will start on Saturday, August 20 and end on Saturday, August 27.

So you don’t have to wait until the end of the month to exercise your right to vote!

There are more than a dozen early voting locations throughout the county (Orange) – open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In Seminole County, early voting locations are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on its early voting days.

Visit your elections office website to see the early voting locations.

The good thing about the Sample Ballot is you can confirm your polling places and voting districts , see the names of all of the candidates, as well as the issues on which you will vote.

Here’s another good thing: You can mark your selections before going to vote and take it with you – into your booth – to use as a guide. That will save you time!

Don’t skip these primary elections – you may not like the candidates that everyone else voted for.

Like President Obama said during his Democratic National Convention speech: Don’t Boo, vote!

You may not be a fan of politics but the people in public offices make and vote on laws that dictate your everyday life.  What do you think about the proposed $15 an hour pay plan?

Check out candidates at local forums and debates or Google them.