Voting isn’t hard. Basically, you have to connect a bunch of arrows, which doesn’t seem too difficult. However, in our age bracket, more of us voted in the American Idol competition than in the last presidential election. That suggests that pop culture means more to us than our government, which affects us every single day.
Kelly Clarkson might be on the radio right now, but in the whole scheme of things voting for the next governor will probably affect you a little bit more. You have the chance to vote for the people you want fixing our $3 billion state deficit, speaking for you on Capitol Hill and enforcing local traffic laws.
Traditionally, the youth vote has been missing from important elections, but this is not the case in Madison. During the 2000 election, 71 percent of registered campus-area voters turned out to vote, which is far above the national average. On a roll from 2000, several student organizations have come together this year to form the Vote 2002 Coalition.
In hopes of keeping that amazingly high voter turnout, we have been committed to registering, educating and motivating the University of Wisconsin community to vote. Because of our efforts, 3,000 students were registered to vote, a voter handbook is in circulation, and voting information can be found with the click of a mouse at our website, www.buckyvote.com.
We are consistently trying to remove the barriers that might stop a potential elector from voting. Don’t fret that you won’t be able to vote. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and if you are in line at 8 p.m. you still can vote.
If you don’t know where your polling place is, you can find a link on our website to help you out.
If you think it’s too cold or too rainy or too windy or even too far, catch a ride with our Vote Vans that will be in the campus area giving rides to and from the polls.
If you don’t have time (which you do, since the actual voting process takes about 45 seconds), remember that voting takes a very small amount of time compared to the effects it will have on your everyday life.
If you aren’t registered to vote, we have information on our website so you know what to bring to the polls in order to register.
If you don’t know anything about the candidates, educate yourself by picking up a voter handbook or visiting our website to find links and surveys from the candidates.
If you only care about one or two races, feel free to vote for only those offices — you can leave the other ones blank, and your ballot will be counted.
If you think that the government is corrupt, find the person that you feel isn’t corrupt and vote for them.
If you think that voting isn’t “your thing,” remember that decisions are made that affect you every day. Legislators determine how much tax you pay on cigarettes, how roads are going to be repaired and how our schools should be funded.
This is the first time in 16 years that the governor’s mansion is being hotly sought-after by several sides. Tomorrow students will have the chance to be the deciding block for elections statewide. If you don’t vote, our next government might not be as good as Kelly Clarkson.
Anita Bertram
Vote 2002 Coalition coordinator
