A Voice without A Vote

My birthday is March 7, 1991.
On the surface, this seems like a perfectly good date, but I am frustrated that I was not born four months and three days earlier. Why? Because I miss the presidential voting deadline and will have to wait another four years before I can help decide who I think is best fit to run our country.
With two very different candidates, and so many important issues on the table, November 4 will be a day that will go down in history. Additionally, with the young voters (18-29-years-old) 44 million strong and representing a weighty one-fifth of the electorate, now more than ever, it is time for my peers to exercise their powerful voice by voting for the candidate who most nearly reflects their stances on domestic and foreign policies.
While some of my friends are already 18 and have the opportunity to vote in this election, many of my friends are in the same boat as I am and will have to wait for the next go-around. Although many of my friends feel voiceless without the voter-registration card, there are ways that my peers can make a difference before and after the upcoming election.
I am educating myself on the positions of Obama and McCain for many vital issues in America today, such as the war in Iraq, health care, immigration, abortion, alternative energy resources and our ailing economy. If I know what the candidates’ policies are, I can aptly discuss the issues with my parents, relatives and friends who can vote so they will vote with the knowledge of my educated opinion in the back of their head.
I also write and blog about my thoughts on the candidates with the hopes of invoking thought in people who read my articles. One of my friends, Erin Rampy, joined the Obama campaign. Rampy makes phone calls informing people of Obama’s major policies and plans to fulfill his vision of change. “I know that even though I won’t be casting a ballot on November 4, at least I helped inform people who will be casting ballots. Hopefully they will make well thought-out decisions and have weighed the pros and cons of each candidate fairly,” Rampy says.
Another important thing to remember is that even though many teens can not vote on this Election Day, many of us will turn 18 soon, and there will be elections for local, state and national representatives in the coming years before the next presidential election. When I turn 18, one of the first things I will do is register to vote so I can fully reap the rewards and responsibilities that come with my new freedom.
Regardless of your age, as an American, it is your duty to be a well-informed citizen. If you are 18, take advantage of your power and vote! If you are not 18, keep in mind that a ballot is not the only way to make your voice heard.