How to become a politically active teenager OR How to become a real voter.

From a quick look at the “quick facts” section, one fact really stands out.  Of those who didn’t vote in the 2000 presidential election, 13% (2,229,000 people), were under the impression that their one vote couldn’t make a difference.  How amazing is that?  In one of the closest presidential elections in history, over 2 million people didn’t vote, thinking that their one vote wouldn’t matter.  What can we learn from this?  Well, clearly EVERY VOTE MATTERS.  This simple fact answers the question “Why is it important to vote?”  In a high school environment, or even if you are starting college, peer pressure is an especially prevalent issue. So how can you become a politically active teenager and still balance your social life?  Well, in reality it’s extremely easy. As you enter college, you will most likely find an increasingly large number of people interested in some sort of political issue, but very rarely will voting come up in discussions.  Challenge your friends, and when they bring up a political frustration, ask them if they vote. Then think of how strong your arguments will become when you can tell them that you are a registered voter, and have never failed to vote. Become a morally, self-responsible individual and you will mature past your years. 
 
So now you want to become a real voter, and you want to know exactly how.

Registering:
You cannot vote in any election if you are not first registered to vote.  A few things to keep in mind before you begin; you must be 18 years or older at the time of the particular vote to be eligible to participate.  The last day to register is 15 days before said election.  In order to register you must have your social security number, and a driver’s license or passport.  Here are a few ways to quickly register yourself to vote.

1.  The first, and probably easiest way to register to vote is online.  Go to www.hereinreality.com/vote.html and pull down your state.  Many states do not allow online registration, however, and Massachusetts is among them.

2.  The easiest way to register in states that do not allow online registration is to order a registration form by mail.  For Massachusetts simply go to www.state.ma.us/sec/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm and fill out the required fields.  They will send you a form, and you will fill it out, mail it back, and receive your registration by mail.  If you live in a state other than Massachusetts, simply go to www.yahoo.com and search “State Name” voter registration (e.g.: Vermont voter registration).

3.  The third most common way to register is by visiting the Registrar at your local Division of Motor Vehicles.  This way is maybe quicker than mail, and all you need is a picture ID. Occasionally there are long lines.

If you are asked to identify a party affiliation for yourself, and you are unsure, check “Independent”.  Otherwise, select the party you wish to be registered for.  The only time this will really come into play is for presidential primaries, as only registered democrats or independents can participate in the upcoming democratic primaries and vice versa for republican primaries.  Once you have registered, you’ve done the hard part, and you are half way there.

Researching:
The second most important of “The 3 R’s” is research.  Now, it isn’t mandatory, meaning no one can make you do this, but it is extremely important.  When you vote it is important to make informed decisions, and align your views as best you can with a particular candidate’s political ideas.  It is important to keep in mind, that no single candidate is going to agree with you on every issue, but it’s best to find the candidate that comes the closest on the vital issues. Identify those issues that are most important to you, and then find a candidate. Also, remember that it’s important to try to not get caught up in one particular issue or quote to either attract or repulse you from a particular candidate.

Politicians are human, and they often make mistakes or say things they shouldn’t. Try not to hold them to standards that are too high.  Unfortunately this is often the reason some people become ambivalent. 

It is important to keep these suggestions in mind so as to become a knowledgeable voter. You must first accept your naivety and become objective on your quest to find just where your subjectivity lies, because an uninformed vote is worse than no vote at all.  A vote based on false pretences can do more harm to the other, and potentially better, candidate for you.  So to become a real voter you must be an informed voter.  Here are some tools that are useful for understanding more about your candidate.

• Newspapers
• TV news (CNN, Fox News)
• Magazines (Newsweek, Time, etc.)
• Websites
• Other people, including your parents

You can turn to conversations with others into a way to educate yourself about certain candidates. Once you know all you need to about the candidates, you can then help others become informed.

Retelling:
Some of the most valuable knowledge can be gained through conversations with others and through arguments or sharing of different opinions.  There is nothing like the feeling of engaging in a friendly argument with a friend. Or even better an elder, where your superior knowledge and understanding of the issues absolutely shocks the person you are arguing with, and you prove yourself to them.  Besides arguing, though, simply engaging in friendly conversation with others can be the perfect time to share your political views.  Sharing your knowledge isn’t only limited to your friends. When you choose to share with people older than you, such as your parents, you will often find them much more willing to listen and learn, and much more impressed. Use your wisdom as an informed voter, to encourage people to vote. You can also ensure that those who are registered make only the most informed decisions, thus helping to decrease the number of uninformed voters.  There are number of staggering facts in the preceding paragraphs that are great tools to use in conversations.  You’re more powerful than you think, and just like those 2 million people who thought their vote didn’t matter, your importance as an individual extends far beyond what you might think.  

Quick Note:
Not that they are bad men or incapable of their jobs, but many would argue that uninformed voting, voter ambivalence, and voter apathy have lead to such gubernatorial elections as Arnold Schwarzenegger in California and Jesse “The Body” Ventura in Minnesota.