It’s coming up on that time again in our state, election time. Most of you probably aren’t as excited as I am, but I love this time of year. I love having a say in the way our government is run and helping decide who will represent our state and our country for the next few years. I realize not every person in the world is as lucky as we are to have the opportunity to vote for their leaders, which is why I exercise that right.

Why is it college students have the worst voter turnout? In America today, you would think this would be quite the opposite. College students should be the first ones out there voting, because we are the future. Everything that goes on in the government right now will affect how we live the rest of our lives and our children’s lives and so on. Do you not want to have a say in that? I want to make sure that as I grow up that I have the freedoms people have died for, and we will still live in the greatest democracy in the world.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the 2004 presidential election voter turnout was up from 60 percent to 64 percent. However, those older than 45 years old had a voter turnout rate of about 70 percent. We college students, ages 18-24, only had a 47 percent voting rate. Less than half the people my age voted, and we wonder why people in the government don’t take college students seriously sometimes.

For many of the freshmen on campus, this may be the first time you will have a chance to vote, and I encourage you to do so. It is a privilege to vote in this great country and I think we must get rid of this negative stereotype that young people do not care what goes on in Washington, D.C. However, do not just vote because you can vote. Research the candidates, read about the ballot measures and be informed. It takes all of 20 minutes to go to a website such as www.vote.wa.gov and read up on anything you would want to know about the current election.

The state general election is Nov. 6 for those college students who aren’t too busy to take a few minutes out of their day and do something as simple as send in an absentee ballot. And for those looking further into the future, our state’s presidential primary is set for Feb. 19.

I encourage you to think about what you believe in; your morals, values and what you think needs to be changed in the area you live, and think about your future. Once you are an educated voter, cast your ballot. Oh, and I forgot to mention: Remember as you get older, wiser and more intelligent, you tend to become more Republican, so why not get a head start now and vote with the right side?