Make History, Vote!!!

Next Tuesday, February 5th, New Yorkers will be a part of history voting in the Presidential Primary and whatever your political views are; this is the time to make them heard. This year’s election will be of significant history as the field of candidates is as diverse as ever; a woman, an Afro-American, a mayor, a former war hero, a minister, etc., while the issues are just as diverse; the Iraq War, Homeland Security, the economy, affordable health care and affordable college tuition.

So should you vote? Yes! You do not need to be a political activist. So who should you vote for? Consider the issues. Go to the candidate’s websites. These can be a treasure trove of information including videos of speeches by the candidates. You can also find online voting guides at Internet sites such as rockthevote.com or vote-smart.com that provide a bi-partisan review of where the candidates stand on the issues. And if you missed the debates you can view them on the Internet at youdecide2008.com by clicking on the video link and selecting 2008 Debate Videos.

Does your vote count? Yes! While in the 2004 election the number of voters in the 18-24 age group increased 11% from the 2000 election, yet the total voting in this age group was still only 47%. With recent close elections such as the 2000 Presidential election being decided on 537 votes in Florida, there is proof that every vote truly counts. Imagine if only 1 voter out of 2400 aged 18-24 voted, the outcome would have been different. So yes, your vote counts!

If you are not registered to vote it is too late to register and vote in the primary election; however you can still register to vote in the general Presidential election up to 25 days before November 4, 2008. Recent modifications of the registration process have made it very simple to register. For New York State residents, you can download the registration form on the Internet by going to http://www.elections.state.ny.us and clicking on voting. You can also register at any New York State DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) office. If you are registered but attending school far from home you can request an absentee ballet from your county’s board of elections.

Remember voting is one of our most cherished rights as US citizens. Your vote today could determine a strong economy tomorrow when you graduate and are searching for employment.