Who me, vote?

Tuesday. What a boring, insignificant day of the week. It’s a necessary evil that inevitably stands between Monday and Wednesday. Beyond that, it has absolutely no relevance at all.

This Tuesday in particular should be nothing short of blah. On its own, Nov. 4 signifies nothing other than Halloween being over and Thanksgiving still a couple of weeks away.

How appropriate, then, that Nov. 4 happens to be Election Day. Nope, nothing exciting here. The guy with the big ears is getting kicked out of office, one way or another. So why vote?

An estimated 14.4 million Americans have turned 18 since the last presidential election, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. But this number means absolutely nothing if these 14 million people turn out to be apathetic.  

And this might just be the case. Our voices clearly have no impact. I mean, it’s not like we have two candidates in a dead heat, vying for the free world’s first and foremost seat of power. No biggie.

You’ve seen the video on YouTube, and you’re smart enough to know that if it’s posted on the Internet, it must be true – “Don’t Vote!” We live in pretty insignificant times, anyway. This election is just business as usual – a few wars, a small economic disaster. The sun will rise and set on Tuesday, regardless of whether or not you even get out of bed.

But then again, what kind of Nov. 5 will you wake up to? Whatever the outcome of this showdown, you’re responsible for it. By not voting, you make my vote count even more, which is a scary thought.

You’ve already done the hard part. You’ve registered. You’ve submitted to months of constant harassment by partisan student organizations around campus. Sure, there might be lines to wait through, but think about it. Tuesday is probably the single most justifiable excuse you’ll ever have to miss class.    

In 2006, Americans ages 18-29 comprised 22 percent of the country’s total voting-eligible population, but only 11 percent of voters. In this neck-and-neck contest, the deciding factor might be the same as what determines the mood of your physics professor during an 8 a.m. Monday class – will you or won’t you show up?

It’s worth your while, and it’s the responsible thing to do. But most of all, voting is a surefire, no-holds-barred way to protect one of your most important, inborn rights. It’s up there with the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of whatever the hell we feel like. It’s what separates us from the animals: the right to complain. Without it, I’d never be able to come up with topics for these columns.

The next time you find yourself saying, “I can’t believe they let this idiot into office,” remember that “they” is you. Whoops. Social responsibility, civic duty and all of those prized intangibles you’re probably sick of hearing about by now are at stake.
So do what you want this Tuesday – just be willing to accept the consequences of your (in)action.