By Mike Sarzo

A grass roots organization formed recently in an effort to oppose slot machine legislation in Maryland. Silver Spring-based StopSlots.com includes links to editorials warning about the effects of gambling or disputing political arguments in favor of revenue streams coming to the state from slot machine gambling.

After years of posturing by officials in both gubernatorial administrations, including former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr., a Republican and current Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, the issue will be decided by voters in November.

Ehrlich pushed the issue as one of the central tenets of his administration, but the Democratic-controlled General Assembly opposed him. Even after O'Malley took office in January 2007 also pushing for slots, he hasn't gotten everyone on board with the idea.

Comptroller Peter Franchot complained about O'Malley alleged berating him after he expressed his opposition to slots, demonstrating more needless discord within the Democratic Party in Maryland.

Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased Maryland voters are getting the right to decide the issue in November. It seems our lawmakers can't agree enough to decide the issue, so let those who are really supposed to be in charge – the people of Maryland – make the call, even if I ultimately disagree with the vote.

This isn't about voting yes or no to slots. This is about Marylanders letting their voices be heard, political machinations be damned. Whether you favor slots or are against it, go to the polls in November and cast your vote while you're deciding who your representative in the House will be or whom you want to occupy the White House.

According to the Prince George's County Board of Elections Web site, Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D) defeated Steven Johnson (R) in the hastily-assembled special election for the Prince George's County Council District 5 seat vacated by Sen. David Harrington (D-Dist. 47)'s move to Annapolis. However, only 2,085 people voted in that election. The county council makes decisions that affect the daily lives of residents far more than some of the bills enacted in Congress. I shudder to think about the small percentage of voters who actually cast ballots in that race.

The fact that voters will vote for the new occupant of the White House this November may well drive up voter participation. I certainly hope it does. Regardless of whether Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) or Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) opposes Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the presidential election, voters will have the most visible opportunity to decide the course of the nation in four years.

Some people favor changing parties in both houses of Congress as well as the president, while others focus on the White House. It may be true that gridlock may not be as important a factor when the same party controls Congress and the presidency, but we've also seen what happens when one party dominates the political scene. The system of checks and balances is not as powerful as it needs to be when that happens.

Regardless of your views on slots or who our elected officials should be, elections are the one tool we all have to keep our lawmakers in check. No matter how badly we may want to do more, the vote is still the most powerful weapon against government going too far.