Every four years, American citizens 18 years of age and older are able to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election.
In order to be eligible to vote Nov. 4, registrations must be postmarked by Oct. 20, leaving just 12 days left from today to complete your paperwork. For many students at Pierce College, this general election may be the first in which they are entitled to mark a ballot.
It is your right as a student and citizen to let your opinion be accounted for. You reserve the right to make your choice on important issues that will change the future.
The amount of controversy surrounding this election may be intimidating for new voters who may still be getting acquainted with the voting process. It is difficult to try and understand the mysterious world of politics before studying any college-level class on political science.
Unfamiliarity, however, is not a reason to feel unworthy of voting. Gone are the days of waiting for the voter’s guide to arrive in the mail. Now, with the convenience of the Internet, there are multiple ways to get informed about what’s going to be decided this coming election day.
Eleven propositions are also on the California ballot. They are what will become the future laws on such issues as gay marriage, parent confidentiality regarding teen abortions, cruelty toward animals, renewable energy, drug offenders and a $3.5 billion construction bond for the Los Angeles Community College District.
Seats in the Supreme Court will be appointed depending on who is chosen to become the next president of the United States. These people will determine the constitutionality on issues such as gun control, although the issues themselves are not on the ballot.
A week from today, the presidential debate on domestic and economic policies will take place in New York. If you are feeling unsure about who you should vote for, watch next Wednesday, and perhaps it will help you decide.
If you are not sure whether you are a Democrat, Republican, somewhere in between or neither one, do not let that stop you from voting Nov. 4. The only way to change the world the way you want it to be is by voicing your opinion. What is decided in this election will shape the future for our own lives and our children’s lives.
The choices made today will last a lifetime – not only four years. America is a democracy, and the only way that can remain true is if its citizens vote.
More information is available at www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov.
(Jessie Lomeli)