2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: It's your responsibility to be an educated voter
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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It used to be simple - not necessarily effective, but simple. If you considered yourself Republican, you voted for the Republican candidate and if you considered yourself Democrat, you voted for the Democratic party candidate. However, a lot has changed, and there seems to be as much division within the two major parties as there is between them.
Some may be leaning toward a vote for a Democratic candidate just because they have lost faith in the abilities of the Republicans. Others are going to stick with the Republican party because that's the way they've voted for years and nothing will change that. Sadly, others may be considering not voting at all because the bickering and back-biting between candidates is enough to make the already confused voter even more overwhelmed.
The best guide for the average college voter - or any voter for that matter - is to become educated before stepping into the voting booth. Turn the TV off and ignore the ads in which candidates repeatedly bash each other instead of addressing the issues. Get a newspaper, surf the Web or whatever else is necessary to find out what the issues are, what they mean and how you personally feel about them.
Being an educated voter has nothing to do with political parties or affiliations. It's important to remember that politicians are a lot like a new product on the shelf at the grocery store. You don't just pick up a bottle of something you've never eaten before, throw it in the basket and take it home. You usually do a little research - something as simple as reading the label, list of ingredients or nutritional facts. You have to know the candidates, their voting history and political beliefs. Politicians have to sell themselves and appear to be better than the competition and good for you. And just like grocery store offerings, the candidates hide their spoiled spots and high fat content.
In this technologically-savvy world, there is no excuse for anyone to be a dummy at the polls.
After all, it's only going to get tougher. Before we realize it, it'll be 2008 and the presidential elections will be under way.
Some may be leaning toward a vote for a Democratic candidate just because they have lost faith in the abilities of the Republicans. Others are going to stick with the Republican party because that's the way they've voted for years and nothing will change that. Sadly, others may be considering not voting at all because the bickering and back-biting between candidates is enough to make the already confused voter even more overwhelmed.
The best guide for the average college voter - or any voter for that matter - is to become educated before stepping into the voting booth. Turn the TV off and ignore the ads in which candidates repeatedly bash each other instead of addressing the issues. Get a newspaper, surf the Web or whatever else is necessary to find out what the issues are, what they mean and how you personally feel about them.
Being an educated voter has nothing to do with political parties or affiliations. It's important to remember that politicians are a lot like a new product on the shelf at the grocery store. You don't just pick up a bottle of something you've never eaten before, throw it in the basket and take it home. You usually do a little research - something as simple as reading the label, list of ingredients or nutritional facts. You have to know the candidates, their voting history and political beliefs. Politicians have to sell themselves and appear to be better than the competition and good for you. And just like grocery store offerings, the candidates hide their spoiled spots and high fat content.
In this technologically-savvy world, there is no excuse for anyone to be a dummy at the polls.
After all, it's only going to get tougher. Before we realize it, it'll be 2008 and the presidential elections will be under way.
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