To the editor,

It’s unusual for someone in California to write to a paper in Wisconsin but my vote isn’t going to count this November and yours will. So this year, you folks are making the decision for all of us.

While I won’t try to tell you who to vote for, I will tell you how to vote: wisely and soberly. Imagine you are on a jury and you have been entrusted with the awesome responsibility of deciding whether someone lives or dies. Put aside your emotions, examine the facts and the evidence, and decide what’s best for our country and our democracy.

And, please, vote. Don’t leave your ballot blank or write in George Washington as your choice for president. As a conservative myself, I know that many of you will not be happy with either of your choices. But those are the choices we have and it’s no exaggeration to say that the fate of the Republic is on your shoulders. So please don’t throw your vote away. I know it’s a lot of responsibility, but all the rest of us who don’t live in swing states like Wisconsin are counting on you.

Chris Truax

San Diego, Calif.