Get Out the Vote

Get Out the Vote

The Democrats held their nominating convention several weeks ago in Boston. Republicans are about to stage our convention to nominate President Bush for a second term beginning August 30th at Madison Square Garden. These quadrennial events are a reminder to all citizens 18 and older to register to vote and plan on casting your ballot this November 2nd.

As the candidates and political analysts rightfully remind us, this year's election is shaping up to be one of the most important of our lifetime. Further, as we are aware, the presidency may very well come down to Ohio's 20 electoral votes. Therefore, it is critical that everyone make their voice heard by casting their vote this November.

The right to universal suffrage, the extension of voting privileges to all adults without distinction to race, sex, religious beliefs is considered a hallmark of modern democracies. Yet, less than 55% of voting age adults cast a ballot in the last two presidential elections, and far less in non-presidential election years.

The underlying cause of the American Revolution was taxation without elected representation. The Founding Fathers fought and risked so much because they placed such a tremendous value on the right to vote. On July 9, 1868, on the heels of the Civil War, the 14th Amendment was ratified. It extended full citizenship to African-Americans, including the right to vote. Women's suffrage was granted by the 19th Amendment and ratified on August 18, 1920. Since then so many others have risked and given their lives safeguarding our right to vote, that a failure to utilize this precious right disrespects all those who have fought for it.

In 1971 the Constitution was amended again in order to lower the voting age to 18. The rationale being that if someone was old enough to fight, and risk, dying for this country, they were old enough to vote for the leaders making those decisions. Sadly, 18- to- 24- year-olds consistently have the lowest voter turnout of any age group. In the 2000 election, just 45% of 18- to- 24- year-olds turned out to vote, compared to 76% of those over 65.

I encourage people to do everything possible to help get out the vote. I understand what happens. For many people election-day sneaks up on them and they simply haven't arranged their schedules. Here's an idea you can use on the Friday and Monday before the election: Send out a global blast email to your entire address book. It is perfectly okay, legitimate and in my opinion, patriotic, to send out a non-partisan email to everybody you know reminding them that the election is coming on the following Tuesday and to stop and take 10 minutes today to make sure you know where your polling place is as well as arranging your schedule to allow you the time to vote.

Registering to vote in Ohio is among the easiest of any state. You may register to vote by simply filling out a brief form, giving your intent to register, your name, birth date, citizenship status, age, current address and signature. Registering is a one time process, as long as you vote once every four years.

You can register at the board of elections in your county, which is listed in the phone book under "Government Offices-County." You may also register at any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles office, any public or vocational school, public libraries, your county treasurer's office, at special get-out-the-vote rallies or by mail from the Secretary of State of Ohio.

You can find the answers to frequently asked questions and forms for registration at the Ohio Secretary of State's web site: