It’s a Right. It’s a Responsibility. It’s a Duty.
By: Taft Matney
On several occasions, I’ve heard this coming election referred to as “the most important election or our lifetimes.”
I have my personal feelings, and if you don’t know them but have a burning desire to find out what they are, feel free to ask. This isn’t the forum for that, though.
It is, however, the forum for me to say this. Voting is a right. Voting is a responsibility. Voting is a duty.
It’s also the forum to say this. If you don’t vote on November 6, you DON’T get to complain.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Jan. 30, 2005) – An Iraqi man proudly displays his blue finger, indicating that he has voted, after having been the first person to vote in an eastern Baghdad polling station, during Iraq’s first free national election today. U.S. Army photo.
Really. You can say you don’t like anybody on the ballot and don’t want to support any of them. That’s fine, and it makes a political statement, but you don’t get to use that as an excuse to stay home. With the presidential race, state and local races, and ballot questions, there’s plenty for you to vote for and against, and you can’t possibly object to every choice. Even if you don’t support your ballot questions, you can still vote, “No.”
See? NO excuses.
In South Carolina, you can call your local election office and request an absentee ballot. You can go to scabsentee.com and request to vote by mail. You can go to your county election office and cast your absentee ballot. You can show up to your regular polling place on November 6 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and vote at your regular time. Plenty of opportunities.
See? NO excuses.
November 6 is almost here, and there’s no excuse for you not to participate.
Do you support Governor Romney? Great. President Obama? Fine. Neither one of them? Super. If you don’t show up, if you don’t stand up, if you don’t speak up, then shut up.
There are people across the globe who have and would give their lives to vote, and it’s important to remember that THIS country started that way, too.
On November 6, exercise your right. Take responsibility. Do your duty. Vote.
PHOTO CREDIT: US Army / ARCENT
