Voting, cool sounds like fun!

"American youth attributes much more importance to arriving at driver's license age than at voting age” Marshall McLuhan

I remember very well the first election I ever voted in. I was 19 years old, it was the year 2000. Bush was running against Gore and Nagan was the 3rd party candidate. I was so excited about getting to go vote. I watched every single debate, researched on all three candidates, and made an informed decesion on who to vote for. My vote went to Bush. I went in to the voting booth, I cast my vote, and when I walked out, I gave the 3 finger peace sign (making a "W") and my friend took my picture. It was all so exciting to me.

Every election since then has felt the exact same way.

However, it is very upsetting to me when I see that people today don['t care about their right to vote.

I was always raised that you have no right to complain about who has been elected to office if you didn't go vote. If you want your voice to be heard, then you have to go vote. Then you can gripe all you want. My mom use to tell me who I have a say in who runs my government. That was always exciting to me.

The day after I turned 18, I went to the court house and registered to vote. The lady who helped me was very impressed. She said how it was just a joy to see young people excited about voting. She commented that she hoped I lived the rest of my life that excited about voting.

So far, I have.

I still watch every debate. I still research all the candidates. I watch the polls. And I always vote.

This past Saturday was Gubanatorial election day in Louisiana. The past four years, we have had to deal with Gov. Kathleen Blanco (who by the way, I did not vote for 4 years ago. I voted for Jindal!) who0 has done a terrible job. She did horribly in regards to Katrina, and other than that, she just pissed a lot of people off with a lot of things she did. A few months ago, she announced that she was not going to run for the governor's mansion again, because she knew that she would not win, and she knew that she would be embarrassed. Can't say I'm terribly upset by that. Good ridance I say.

So, I wake up early Saturday morning, take my shower, get dressed, and go vote. Once again, I vote for Jindal. Then I do the rest of my chores for the day.

I wake up Sunday morning to find out the Jindal won the election, the first time in 40 years for the election to be one without having to have a run-off race. I am so happy.

Then I hear how many people came out to vote. See, there are 2,166,801 registered voters in Louisiana. Only 1,207,765 people came out to vote Saturday. That's basically just over half of the registared voters in Louisiana. To add to that, only 10% of the registared voters are under the age of 25. ONLY 10%!!!!!!!!! And only 65% of Louisianaians who are of legal voting age are acually registered.

What's the deal Louisiana. Do you not care about who runs your government? Do you not care that you have a voice. do you nat care about your rights?!!

I know I do.

So this is my pledge. I will work very hard in trying to get people I know to register to vote! only a year before presidental elections. I petition for all of you to do the same. Let's make a difference!

Jacey C. signing off!