Make the Right Choice on Tuesday: Go Vote!

This weekend, I volunteered to support Barack Obama and call voters in Virginia -- one of the battleground states in the presidential election -- to help encourage people to head to the polls on Tuesday. This is the most important election of our time, an election where we can either choose to continue down a path of corruption, massive war debt and a growing fear of a global economic downturn or we can elect to make a change. A McCain win may take our country in a different direction, but likely will follow the path of the last eight years. An Obama win will, hopefully, lead our country in a direction of change, toward a rebirth of America. That's why I called people this weekend; I believe it is every American's responsibility to head to the polls and make their voice heard. Not only is it a responsibility, but it's also an honor.

So it shocked me when I called an 80-year-old registered voter in Virginia. When the woman who answered informed me the man wasn't home, I asked her if she was planning to vote. Surprisingly, almost adamantly, she said no. I asked her why and explained that we all have the right to choose the direction we want our country to head. This woman, who sounded old enough to have voted countless times, responded that she has never voted and wasn't voting on Tuesday. "I just don't vote," she said. She seemed annoyed that I would ask her about this. To me, I just can't understand why anyone able to vote wouldn't exercise that right.

In 2004, more than 215 million people were eligible to vote in that year's presidential election, however only a little more than half that number turned up at the polls to make their voice heard. This year, the number of eligible voters has jumped to about 230 million -- and early voting results have indicated this election could turn out the largest number of voters in U.S. history. So why would anyone choose to not be in that group?

What is it that causes someone to elect or not to elect his or her officials, to select the person who best represents how they feel on the issues? Three weeks ago I voted early in Chicago. As I ticked the boxes on the new electronic voting machine, I overheard a woman (who looked to be in her late 30s) tell one of the polling place volunteers that it was the first time she was voting. Ever. In her life. I'm glad she was participating in this election, but what caused her to stay away all this time? Personally, there aren't many things that make me as proud as walking out of a polling place after I vote.

So please, go vote. We have the power to choose who will lead us for the next four years. Whether that's Obama (hopefully) or McCain, you have to make a choice. You can either choose to stay home (or at the office or the mall) and ignore one of your most powerful rights in this country. Or you can choose to head to the polls on Tuesday and select the man who will be the next leader of the free world. What will you choose?

Follow Ari Bendersky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/aribendersky

Comments

[blaqntelligence]

I am ashamed to admit I didn't vote for the first time until I was in my 40's.
1.) I didn't believe my voted counted....
2.) I didn't believe the candidates spoke for me or my interests.
Today, I've got a new attitude. In THIS election, I've volunteered my time and donated money.

Obama/Biden '08

[sally3566]

JUST VOTE!!! Be Counted (on)
Have You Voted Yet?
If not- Think about this:
1)As Americans YOU have the Right to Vote!
2)Votes are like pennies, 1 penny is of no value to us, But if you add millions of pennies " that's a lot of money (VOTES)
3)Be part of something BIG & historic , a where were you kinda event! Why do you think Obama's campaign is effective? Technology -The world today is different, things happen and you could be part of something big!
4)Ask yourself some questions:
Who are you? Do you make $250,000+
Are you one of the 40% that doesn't pay taxes?
What are your needs?
Jobs (minimum wage)
Education (can't afford) Health (how much insurance can $5000 buy)
Age (social security/401k)
Labor rights (unions) privatization benefits who?
Abortion (I'm against it)there are other means of prevention and awareness along with substance abuse.....
Firearms (do you hunt? know anyone killed?
Gay rights (as Americans we all have rights)
War/Military- everyone is proud of our soldiers no matter what!and by God take care of them when they get back from war and their families too!

Taxes -Step out of your shoes for a moment. In the news ?class warfare...
Rich = $250,000+ =5%
Middle = ?_? =55%
Poverty = don't pay taxes =40%
Where are you?
Why do taxes exist in the first place?
(Romans 13:1-7)
(U.S. Constitution 16th amendment )
Obama didn't choose his name his mother did. And she is white.

[adela1979]

I am hoping that people will not be scared of the long lines. People come and vote! every vote counts!

[adela1979]

I think that anybody that has the right to vote should do it if they care about their life in this country. Every vote counts!!!!

[LeftRight]

I still don't understand why people WOULDN'T vote! I've heard the arguments, usually having something to do with "my vote won't count" but STILL!!!!