Law Students

Power in the Ballot: Vote to Make History

By jlwallace

I am a week behind in my reading for Con Law, my laundry is piling up, I have grocery shopping to do, I have messages to return, and emails to send.

But all this can wait while I go vote. I will cast my ballot, even if it means falling another day behind, even if it means waiting in line for hours, even if it means standing in the rain.

Julie Albrecht Royce cautions that we not take our right to vote for granted:

Your odds of an IRS audit are 175-1, of having your identity stolen 200-1, of a meteor landing on your house 182,138,880,000,000-1.

But 1-in-3 registered female voters will find a reason not to vote Tuesday.

Perhaps, on Nov. 4, you are up to your eyeballs in job and family obligations. You have every intention of voting but something -- sick baby, soccer game, board meeting, last-minute work assignment, grocery shopping, or a hard-earned headache -- might get in the way. The polling place may be several minutes from your home. The lines may be long and you have no time to spare. You are only one person; does your vote really matter?

When Nov. 5 dawns, the dirty laundry may be piled higher and the to-do list may be longer, but the odds are absolute, you will never have another chance to vote in this presidential election.

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Full post as published by Ms. JD on November 04, 2008 (boomark / email).