The Michigan election on Nov. 2 approaching fast and we would like to take this opportunity to remind students to exercise their civic duty to vote. The voice of the next generation that will mandate laws, policy and presidents, whether it be Republican or Democrat, must be heard.
Although the election will focus mainly on state-level government, the change it can create will be vast. With Gov. Jennifer Granholm reaching her term limit, a replacement will be chosen. In addition, all seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are up for election, and of course Stupak’s replacement in the U.P. There are also two ballot measures to vote on. Proposal 1 gives Michigan voters the choice to hold a constitutional convention held and Proposal 2 bars any person convicted of a felony involving deceit or fraud from holding public office for a period of 20 years. The above are all issues that need attention and while one vote may not seem like a lot of power, together those votes help create history.
We realize that not everyone is able to get out on Election Day. Students wanting to vote who are registered in areas other than Marquette may find themselves in a bit of a jam. While attending school, it is not easy to get back home in order to vote.
With the help of an absentee ballot, though, students are able to go to class and still make sure their voice is heard. Not only are absentee ballots easy to obtain, the amount of people who participate using them just may be enough to swing an election.
To receive an absentee ballot, a student should contact the county clerk of the county registered they are registered in and request a ballot in writing. It’s really that simple, and as long as a student is registered to vote, he or she will have no problem obtaining a ballot.
While we’re not electing a new president, we are electing people that will run this state and make decisions that will affect and influence the lives of every person on campus. It’s up to the voters to decide the future of Michigan.