In the upcoming weeks and months, students on campus are going to find themselves bombarded by efforts encouraging them to both register to vote and cast a ballot on November 2. Groups ranging from dorm RAs to student government are planning efforts toward these ends, and I hope everyone takes advantage of these opportunities that make the process easier.
The American political process was designed to require minimal effort on the part of the citizenry; we elect officials who we hope will be responsible enough to handle all the decision-making for us. All the voter has to do is pay a little bit of attention to what’s going on in the world, which is becoming increasingly easier with modern media. Obviously, the more you pay attention, the better informed your decision will be, but no one should be put off the political process just because it requires too much effort. Distancing yourself from the process only invites harm when you become unimportant in the eyes of the politicians.
It’s all too easy to think of “the government” as exactly that: the government instead of our government. Every elected official across the country is there to represent the interests of you and your fellow citizens, but if you don’t vote or otherwise participate in the process, they begin losing interest in you and what matters to you. They listen to the people who bother to contact them and make the case for their opinion, who are increasingly those who have an axe to grind—including special interest lobbyists.
Nearly everyone can agree that these lobbyists are a big problem in the American government, but there are limited ideas on how to deal with them. Several improvements have been attempted, but the best way to lessen their impact on the system is for you, and everyone around the country, to show your elected official that you also care about what they’re doing and that you have issues that are important to you.
Some people may believe that the government doesn’t do anything that will ever affect them, but our government has an impact on the life of every American. Whether it’s taxes, restrictions on your social activities, or if you’ll be drafted, the political process has, and will continue to, affect your life. You should do yourself the service of making sure your voice is heard in the great debate.
So in the next seven weeks, take some time to register to vote and register for an absentee ballot. For many states, both can be done right from your dorm room. If you’re already registered to vote, True Majority is just one group that offers absentee ballot registration through their website (http://www.truemajority.com/). Pay attention to the news, whether it’s through The Poly or another publication, and cast your vote on November 2 to show that you care and you’re listening to the politicians, so they can better listen to you.
