You can almost hear the starter's pistol fire.
Yesterday, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry announced his bid for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential race. He now officially joins other notable Democratic candidates like Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and former-Vermont Governor Howard Dean.
They will first debate before the primaries and will eventually compete against the Republican candidate, whether George W. Bush or the handfuls of lesser-known contenders, in the November 2004 election.
Though the election is 14 months away, we, as vital citizens of the American population, have the span of the calendar year to acquaint ourselves with the issues and how these hopefuls (and incumbent) stand. Whether our concerns are the candidate's environmental policy, economic theory, foreign affairs record or focus on homeland security, we have the civic responsibility to participate in and be educated about the political future of our country.
Last February, only 2,039 Ball State students voted in the SGA election. This translates to 11 percent of the campus population.
And according to the Committee for Study of the American Electorate, the turnout of the U.S. voting-age population has hovered around 50 percent since 1988. These numbers are too low to support the true democratic process.
Although poor voter turnouts have haunted elections of all kinds, we need to remember that, every vote (or dimpled chad) counts, as was displayed in the Gore vs. Bush deadlock in Florida.
So whether you are pleased with the state of the union or believe there is a need for change, take the next year to educate yourself. Then, when Nov. 2 arrives, you can make an informed decision in the voting booth.
Next year, apathy is not an option.
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