Election season is upon us once again. With November 7 rapidly approaching, it is time for everyone to make an educated decision about who is best fit to lead our government. It is one’s civic duty to be informed before heading off to the polls to cast a ballot. Picking a candidate solely because, “His name sounds pretty,” or, “Eeny meeny miny mo said so,” is utterly unacceptable. While RPI students are known for being quite apathetic, choosing our leaders is one area where we cannot slack off.
The first step in becoming politically aware is to register to vote. Though the registration deadline for the 2006 elections in New York has passed, there are still several other states—Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont among them—in which there is still time for residents to register. Check out your local area’s board of elections or the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s website for more information about deadlines and access to the proper forms. If your home state’s deadline for this election season has passed, fear not: It is never too early to register for next year!
Unless you have registered to vote locally, odds are you are going to require an absentee ballot. The deadline for this form has not yet passed, so if you have already registered, you are in good shape. In New York, like several other states, all absentee ballot requests must be postmarked one week before the election. These forms are also available through your county’s board of elections.
Though it does not require much effort, voting has a large impact on our world. Yet, year after year, people still go into the polls with no idea on who they are voting for. Instead of using those 10 or 15 extra minutes you have playing Halo, do a little research on the candidates running for office. The knowledge will help you to make an informed decision and it will ensure that those who win will truly be representative of their constituents.
