Why I vote
Posted: Friday, October 22, 2010, 4:46 PM GMT
I just turned 18 last month. That means I can go to clubs, buy cigarettes...and vote.
As soon as I could, I went down to the voting station and cast my ballot during the early voting period (I won't say who I voted for). Why wouldn't I want to vote? It's an opportunity to have a say in how things are run locally and nationally, an opportunity people in so many other countries don't have and are actively fighting for.
So I was rather surprised to hear that only 3.5 percent of my peers plan to vote in this election according to a KUHF/KHOU poll (well, surprised isn't really the word. Disappointed??)
Last year, large numbers of young voters rushed to polls to cast their vote for president, but after the excitement of last year's election died down, we're back to business as usual: few young people can be bothered to vote.
Vote, because whether you think so or not, the outcome of this election will impact you. In Texas, we're voting for our next governor, and one of the many issues at the forefront of the election is education. We need to see you out there. Young people need to build a presence at the polls and show more interest in the policy-making process.
I recommend voting early. The time it took for me to stand in line and cast my ballot, amounted to only 15 minutes tops. Remember, voting is your civic responsibility.
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