There was a proposition on the Springfield ballot for Tuesday April 7^th on a hotel motel tax to remodel and build additions to our existing Civic Center on St. Louis Street. I am not a citizen of the city. I live in the county so I and other residents near us could not vote on this issue.

On election day, my wife and I were at our polling place and voted on a candidate and issue in the Ebenezer Fire District. No one was talking about this issue. The April election determines whether you are a faithful voter or just someone who wants the right to be able to complain when the vote goes against what you want. You don’t understand this? If you did not vote, you do not have any right to complain, because you did not vote.

My wife and I are so committed to the idea of voting, we also serve as election judges for Greene County, Missouri. We have done this for over fifteen years. It was important to vote in this election because it may be your last chance. For my entire life, we as Americans have had this privilege. There are people including our President who wants to keep you from voting, if you do not agree with them.

The current Iranian conflict may well be the way to accomplish this. If we are attacked on US soil and Martial Law are declared, the 2028 election could be canceled. Especially if the candidates for offices are ‘accidentally’ killed before we can vote for or against them.

It is not only the Trumpites that want to restrict voting. Other groups do not think that many of us should have this right. It isn’t just your color, religious preferences, sexual identity, or opinions that they wish to control. Have you noticed how often something you voted against comes back to the forefront, again.

Proposition One in Springfield was just this type of issue. It was defeated last year and came back again. It was defeated by even more voters this time. Will it be back again next time or next year? We have been told that it will not be on the ballot again. I will believe that when I see it. We are from Missouri. My guess is that it will appear on the November ballot in 2028. If it is, you heard it here first.

Don’t say you haven’t been warned when this happens. I have been voting for more than fifty years and have never felt that this could be a possibility until now. Donald Trump and his supporters proved they were willing to kill our Congress and Senate in 2020. They murdered a guard and the President pardoned them once he regained power. What next?

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger