Voting is easier than you think

Watching the State of the Union Address on Tuesday reminded me how important it is to vote.
I wasn’t old enough to vote in the last election, but I wish I was. True, my single vote wouldn’t have changed who is in office now, but having a hand in our democracy is worth the wait in a voting line.
As we’ve all learned, the “demo” in democracy means people, and that means you. It’s not only your right, but it’s your responsibility to go out and voice your opinion at the polls. I’ve heard some heated debates about the W. Bush administration. Whether it’s talking about complicated political issues or general banter about what party we identify with, plenty of students have their own opinions about what’s right for our country. If you don’t have an opinion, get one.
Just because you’re under 30 doesn’t mean your vote won’t count.
Try this on for size: 20 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds vote and 80 percent of 80-year-olds vote. That is one in five young people and 4 out of five older people who vote-and we wonder why the candidates campaign on healthcare.
Alarmed by these figures, Professor Kathleen Martin and the Law & Society Student Organization (LASSO) have spent the last five years registering Georgia College and State University students to vote. She says there are a number of issues students should be concerned about.
“Young people who think their vote doesn’t matter should wake up,” she said. “When the federal government makes decisions about whether to keep paying interest on student loans or whether to reinstitute the draft, shouldn’t you be concerned? At the state level, our legislature will be making decisions about HOPE Scholarship benefits, shouldn’t you be concerned?”
There’s just no excuse for not registering. Martin and LASSO can register any student from any county in Georgia. Just visit A&S 209 to fill out the appropriate forms. You can register in county election offices, public libraries or when you renew your driver’s license. You can even download registration forms on the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.ga.us/elections.
A common excuse for registered college students who don’t vote is that they are away from home on election days. Martin says the process is simple.
“Students can request an absentee ballot up to 180 days prior to an election. Absentee ballots must be made in writing by mail, fax or in person at your county’s registrar’s office. Absentee applications are available in my office and on the Secretary of State’s website.”
Still not satisfied?
Another alternative is the new advance voting, which allows you to vote in person in your home county’s voter registration office. This can be done Monday through Friday during the week prior to Election Day.
Now that you know what to do, go out and do it. The deadline to register in time for the March 2nd presidential preference primary is Feb. 2.
See you at the polls.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 16 2004. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry