You've probably been hearing it since your 18th birthday. You know, the traditional "You're 18 - it's your civic duty to register to vote and to show the world you're a generation that does care" speech.
Well, with the Indiana primaries approaching in May, it's that time of year again for the "get out and vote" speech - or in this case, column. You're probably tired of it, but until everyone is out there fulfilling their "civic duty," you'll keep hearing it.
Perhaps you already do vote, and in that case, I applaud you and will not be offended if you stop reading now. However, chances are you don't vote or aren't even registered to do so. In fact, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce, 58 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds were registered to vote for the 2004 presidential election.
However, only 47 percent of that 58 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. Perhaps that 11 percent got lost somewhere on the way to the polls.
Or perhaps it's all those students from Indiana, those same students who say, "What's the difference, my vote doesn't count anyway."
Now I'll admit that being from a traditionally "red" state can discourage many liberal voters from getting out there and casting their ballots.
But that's the one that really gets me. It's pretty much common knowledge that the American people are not happy with President Bush - even the traditionally conservative Hoosiers. In fact, just two years ago the Indianapolis Star reported that Bush's approval rating in Indiana stood at just 37 percent. The situation hasn't gotten much better since then, with the president's approval rating standing at just 33 percent nationally.
The point is that your vote does count, and with Indiana's distaste for Bush, it might count so much that Indiana may just turn "blue" this year. The fact is, voters may be too turned off by the current administration to vote for another Republican. However, conservative voters shouldn't take a hands-off approach and expect Indiana to vote "red" as it has done since 1964. If you don't vote, you don't count.
Besides, voting for the president isn't the only way your vote counts. Rather, voters also have the civic duty to vote on a much more localized level through mayoral to city council races.
Of course, you've got to be registered. Like I said earlier, more than 40 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds weren't even registered to vote in the 2004 presidential elections. Why? It's not hard.
In fact, you don't even have to leave your house to register. It gets even better - you can download the registration form from the Internet, a college student's best friend. The simple act of walking to the mailbox to send out the form stands as the last hurdle.
Not to mention, you've got to get those papers filed in time - 29 days prior to the primary or general elections.
But finally, voting is the ultimate way to repay those who paved the way for us to have this right. The term "civic duty" is often thrown around without much thought. Although voting has been around since our country was founded, it wasn't a guaranteed right for all of us. Black Americans weren't granted the right to vote until 1870 with the ratification of the 15th Amendment. Women's rights came even later with the 19th Amendment in 1920, after more than 100 years of fighting for it. It is a civic duty - a responsibility - of American citizens to vote, not only to make change, but also to prove to our founders that we deserve that responsibility and will use it proudly.
When the primary election on May 6 and the general election on Nov. 4 roll around, drag yourself out of bed a bit earlier to fulfill your "civic duty."
Casey Gentis is a senior public relations major and writes 'The Case Study' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Casey at casey.gentis@gmail.com
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