Exercise your right to vote.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 November 2008
• Author: White, John G., III

Soon it will be time to vote in an election that will decide who becomes the new president of the United States during a time of economic crisis and our divided nation at war.

For the first time in our history, an African-American male will run for president on one ticket, and a woman will run as vice president on the other.

Crucial. Momentous. Historical.

Yet, sadly, so many will decide to sit this one out if Florida's track record on voting in general elections is any indication. From 1954 through 2004, the average voter turnout in general elections in Florida was 65 percent.

What are the excuses of the other 35 percent of registered voters who don't bother to show up at the polls? You've heard these cynical and apathetic responses before:

"My one little vote won't matter anyway."

"I don't trust politicians. Their promises just sound like more of the same."

"My life is so busy; I really haven't had the time to study the candidates' platforms on the issues."

While the Florida youth voter turnout--the 18- to 29-year-old citizens --tripled in the January primary, it was still...