A Few Tips for Young Voters on Not Ruining Next Tuesday for Everyone

To the Youth of America,

As a writer for "Family Guy" (one of your favorite shows), it is entirely possible that I am responsible for one or more of your favorite offensive and/or "Star Wars" jokes. But for just a moment, I want to be serious and talk about next Tuesday's election, and while I do not speak for everyone affiliated with the show, I'm going to pretend like I do and encourage all of you to get out and vote on November 4th... for the black guy, not the old guy.

Some of you might be met with long lines at polling stations, but who cares? You probably don't have a job to go to and if you do have a job you probably hate it, so what difference does it make if you're a little late? Most of you would blow off your job to stand in line all night to get a new iPhone, or be the first to play "Guitar Hero: World Tour", or get free tickets to some shitty, horrible, unfunny Dane Cook concert; so why wouldn't you wait in line a little while to change the world?

Now, some of you might get to the end of this long line and realize some nefarious douche-nozzle has scrubbed your name from the voter rolls. This was probably done illegally and by some doughy, white gentleman who sweats a lot and has never had consensual sex. Make sure that you are not a victim of this asshole's plot to overthrow our government. Bring multiple forms of I.D., have the phone number of the local election commissioner on hand, and use your phone to record everyone and everything that stands in the way of you casting your vote. Then tell everyone who will listen that you were denied your rights. Blast the video everywhere you can. Post it on YouTube, email it to the news (not Fox News) and make sure the world knows what happened.

Believe it or not, you guys are the most important voting block in America. You have the power to change the direction of our country and the world. Don't blow it! Put down the bong, pause "Call of Duty 4", grab your cleanest t-shirt, get off your ass and vote!

Comments

[skippy54]

No man, you're wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!! Dane Cook is funny!

[thebigbike]

The 18th birthday of my 18th birthday has celebrated ITS 18th birthday and is already in elementary school, and this is the first presidential election I've had a candidate I have voted FOR instead of voting for one of them as the lesser of the available evils. I know Obama ain't perfect and, believe me, I KNOW from "aint perfect" but even if you don't vote for my guy get there and vote

[FirstShirt]

"Don't blow it! Put down the bong, pause "Call of Duty 4", grab your cleanest t-shirt, get off your ass and vote! "

Agree. Vote for the only war hero running. The only guy who has chosen to serve his country and had the stones to do it.

Don't vote for another democratic, liberal talking head who has done absolutely nothing for anyone but himself.

Use your freedom. Don't throw it away.

[FLRN4Obama]

Since when serving in the military is the only criteria one needs to be president?
My young cousin is serving in Iraq right now, shall we start prepping him for 2012?

I would rather have someone that can think rationally and able to articulate his thoughts in a comprehensible manner. In short, I would rather have an educated man handling my future, and that leaves your man McSame out of the equation.

[michiganfan]

"The only guy who has chosen to serve his country and had the stones to do it."

- Also, the only guy who could ever get near a fighter jet after crashing twice during routine landings in training.
- Also the only guy who was ever shot down because he thought the Missile warning alarm was too loud, so he fiddled with the volume knob instead of evading the incoming missile.

[kristah]

John McCain USED to be a hero. Now HE is the one only doing things for himself, not putting Country First. He has been lying, using sleazeball techniques, and the worst insult was picking Palin for VP.
I don't care about what he did a million years ago. I care about what he has done in the last few months...and I haven't seen ANYTHING that makes me thingk he is worthy of my vote.

[crice]

So serving your country as a soldier is the only requisite for being President of the United States? I wasn't aware of this. With that being the case, I'm almost sure you voted for Kerry over Bush, right?

[rugbymom]

The ACLU has a pamphlet on its website (www.aclu.org), in English and Spanish, with clear legal information on voting rights, and a phone number to call if you have problems. Download it and take it with you. Knowing your rights is part of winning.

Go to your Board of Elections or Secretary of State's website ahead of time, verify your polling place, and download or at least look at the sample ballot. You know who you want to vote for at the top of the ticket, but check all the races and the ballot questions. Read the paper and decide before you go how you intend to vote. This will save you time inside the voting booth and streamline the process for everyone waiting in line behind you.

Added advice: If you do everything the post suggests and you still run into flak, last resort is to vote by provisional ballot. If that's your only choice, DO IT. Then follow up (they have to give you the information on how) to make sure that your ballot got counted.

[nammy50]

I am a boomer who thought my generation would change the world back then. Sadly, my generation abdicated our responsibility.

I hope this generation does what we did not- take this country back.

My kids will be voting with me and their Grandfather on November 4. Three generations voting for hope!

[FirstShirt]

That's nice. Did your gene tree also vote for Carter and Clinton?

[Phaedrus21]

You mean the last President to leave us with a budget surplus? That Clinton?

[Likipedia]

Did yours vote for Dubya ?

[Isis N]

I CANNOT wait to vote for Obama with my first presidential election - I'm that youth vote that is getting out there and trying to make the world a better place!

[FirstShirt]

Good for you and congratulations. I'm a republican and I will defend your right to vote for the person of your choice.

Give it some thought. Hope is nice. Talk is cheap. Would you hire someone to do a job based on hope or experience?

McCain/Palin 08

[astheworldturns]

McCain/Palin experience I can do without. And the experience argument went out the door with his pick of Palin not that his judgment was good to begin with.

[FLRN4Obama]

I would hire someone to do a job for which he or she is qualified to do, in short went to school for. When you go to the hospital they do not have old, decrepit doctors and nurses taking care of you, some are right out of school and some are even still in school. But yet, I am sure you would rather have them than the janitor making decision as to your health, or are you that dim not to know the difference?

So do you get the analogy? John McCain is the janitor and Obama is the doctor/nurse that will make you better, NOT THE JANITOR.

[SonofLiberty1]

FirstShirt,

And I thank you for Outsourcing my job....

I won't do the same to you though.

[Isis N]

Based on the research I've done, it seems that McCain's points about what he's done in his past are now CONTRARY to what he WILL do once in office.... He's flip-flopped a LOT too much for my comfort.

Let me put it to you this way...

Do I, a college student, want a president who understands where the future can go, or do I want someone who only seems to live in the past?

Obama/Biden '08 / '12!

[BlueOnBlue]

I've grown old and cynical waiting for the youth vote to show up.

I usually work as a Democratic greeter at our polling place in a precinct heavy with both college student apartments and retirement homes. The old folks show up in droves, often coming up the ramps with walkers and wheelchairs. The students mostly aren't there at all.

This year, I'm replacing my cynicism with hope. Please, young voters, for once, show up.

[VAforObama]

If you are voting in Virginia, do not wear your O gear to the polls. No buttons, cool t-shirts, etc. Carry an extra sweater so the woman next to you wearing the groovy O shirt can cover it and vote. No joke, here.

I've been voting since 1978 and I swear it's still the coolest thing I've ever done. I cried when I voted in the primary and I expect to have a meltdown when I vote in the election.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Great idea to bring an extra cover-up for someone!

Been voting since '92! I always remembered my brother and I going with my mom while she voted. She would go behind the curtain and I thought that was the coolest thing. Now they just have these cubicle like tables - not as much fun...:(.

[PghDemocrat]

You know, I may actually find myself tearing up as I cast my ballot this year as well. This is the first time in a general election that I am voting for the guy I really really want to lead our Nation and not just the giuy that I think I can live with for the next 4-8.

I am sure it is rather trite to say but I also feel as if the weight of our history lies in the hands of us, as voters, on Nov 4. All those who fought in distant countries they never knew existed before but were willing to give their blood for freedom. The men, women and children that were beaten, attacked by dogs and fire hoses and still stood for their right to vote. All those individuals stand with us on November 4 encouraging us to cast our ballots in their memory. It isn't about the race of our candidates. It isn't about our poltiics. It is about the course of this nation taking another great leap towards forming a more perfect union.

[cheesypoofs]

Excellent advice, Mr. Butler. Thank you!

Please, young voters, take this column to heart and heed the advice in it. Like others have said here, bring something to occupy your time and one of those folding bag chairs is a great idea for the long lines you could face.

Come on, young voters, America needs you. Prove FOX News wrong as they are claiming you will not show up because you are slackers or you don't have the patience to wait in lines or you don't care about your future and the country.

Bill O'Reilly has said in the past that it's too bad that your vote counts the same as his. He's also said that young voters are uninformed and think from a place of emotion instead of intellect.

Prove these conservative FOX News blowhards wrong! Don't let the large voting group of conservative, white, over 55 voters decide your future! Please get out there and exercise your right to vote!

VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

[BillGeeC]

You can't take pictures/video at your polling place in NC. They're afraid you're going to take a picture of your ballot, go outside and get paid for your vote. BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU VOTE IN NC. VOTING FOR A STRAIGHT TICKET DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE!!! If you vote straight ticket and do not mark anything for President, you did not vote for a president. You would think the polling places would have instructions posted on the wall for you to read while you wait, but they did not.

[Trittydi]

First of all - if you can -- VOTE EARLY!!!!!!!!!!, But, if not - on election day . . .

. . . bring something with you that'll take VIDEOS - like he says.

IN CASE OF LONG LINES -- consider bringing a few or all of the following -- drinks (pop, water) - food (Biggest bag of chips on the shelf - maybe TWO) or chips and salsa -- folding chairs - FRIENDS TO VOTE WITH - Magic Cards, your D&D stuff - call your Dungeon master - get their ass down there too.

Bring a book, your tunes, laptops, FRIENDS TO VOTE WITH - homework, your SO, maybe an umbrella and rain coat - anything you could possibly need. Friends help with bathroom breaks too - someone to hold the place in line -- and food runs. Did I say to bring friends to vote with??? You're gonna meet/make new friends - have your phone, computer or a notebook to take numbers.

Before you go - download the FREE graphic comic, "Steal Back Your Vote" at

www.stealbackyourvote.org --- MEMORIZE IT - BRING IT WITH YOU! TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!

DON'T ACCEPT PROVISIONAL BALLOTS!! (comic will tell you why - and some tricks)

YOU GUYS ARE IT THIS YEAR! WE CAN'T CHANGE THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU!
*

[Thad]

Kirker, I have a question.

Your post is awesome. Therefore, logically, The Huffington Post has contributors who are capable of writing things that are awesome.

So why, then, is every single non-animated 23/6 post so staggeringly, painfully unfunny?

Keep up the good work, and hopefully you can solve this puzzle for me!

[livesbythec]

For a sobering and frightening look at what could happen if we do not vote, please go to:
http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/taf.html (you may have to cut and paste)
SEND a personalized video to EVERY registered voter that you know!!!
I believe it is sponsored by Moveon.org. It is worth it and please send out as many as you can. Talk about cool technology. Particularly after the Florida mishap, we cannot let that ever happen again!!!
This is a strong call to action. Will you help us?

[creston heltzel]

Thank you Mr. Butler. I am a young voter, and this is a message to my generation.

Our time is NOW!!! In a few short years most of us will be in positions quite different from where we are today. Some of us may have children, some of us may have cool high paying jobs, some of us might even be running for public office. My question to you is... What do you want that world to look like? We have a unique opportunity as Americans to decide the direction of OUR great nation. Do we want a government attached to the same old principles and ideals based on fear, rejection, suppression, dishonesty, and cronyism. NO!!!

We want a leader who will stand up for the ideals that our country was founded upon. A leader who can, and will inspire us. A leader who stands center stage and makes us remember what it means to be American. What it means that all men are created equal. We want a country that we can be proud of.

Please get out to the polls armed with your rights as a citizen. Tell those who would turn a deaf ear to our generation that their time is up. Tell those who would attempt to disenfranchise us that we aren't falling for their dirty political games anymore.

This is way to important to ignore. This is our time, lets seize it and make America the country she has the power to be.

CH

[vernbvb]

Our youth have been totally engaged in both campaigns but i am especially proud of them for how well they did with Obama's campaign.

Hopefully, they will continue to be engaged all the way to the polls and encourage their friends to vote also. It has never been so important.

Electing Obama/Biden is only the beginning. There is much work to be done over the next 4 years and then some.

And thank you Kirker for your inspirational message to our youth. I hope they take your advice and let nothing stand in the way of them and the ballot box.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I remember this past summer seeing young people standing on the corners in the town square with their pamphlets, voter registration, etc....beautiful, young, hopeful people - the upcoming leaders.