Your vote counts

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LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  It's been said before, but it bears repeating: Exercising our right to vote is the most fundamental and important responsibility we have as citizens of the United States.

Many Americans will vote in the November elections. Unfortunately, many will not.

Since 1972, less than 56 percent of voting-age eligible people actually cast their votes in federal elections. In non-presidential elections between 1972 and 1996, average voter turn out falls to less than 38 percent. Needless to say, the outcome of the highly contested presidential election of 2000 might have been different had more than 52 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots.

This year's federal elections will decide the president and vice president of the United States, more than 30 seats in the U.S. Senate and the entire House of Representatives. The people who are elected into these positions will create policies that govern our way of life. Those who choose not to vote give up their chance to influence those policies as they are formed.

As active members of the military community, we have sworn to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." It's what we do every day, whether we're at our home station or a deployed location. The Constitution, specifically amendments XV and XIX, gives us the priceless right to vote. I find it ironic that in Afghanistan, Afghanis are being murdered simply because they registered to vote. Yet, in America, the home of Afghanistan's liberators, voting has seemingly become almost an afterthought.

Our military lifestyle may complicate the voting process, but help is available to those who want it. Air Force units with more than 25 people have a voting assistance officer. Each has been trained to lend assistance with voter registration to vote, requesting absentee ballots and answering questions about the process. If a voting officer hasn't contacted you already, seek one out. The local military personnel flight can provide contact information if necessary. Also, important voting information is listed on the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site at www.fvap.gov.

If you are one of the 48 percent of eligible Americans who are happy to sit by and let the other 52 percent make policy that affects your life, by all means, stay at home -- but don't be surprised or disappointed if the people elected and the resulting policies aren't to your liking. Most people wouldn't let someone else take away their input in choosing a car or picking out their clothes. Why let someone else choose your leadership?

Personally, I can't fathom why so many people decide not to participate in choosing their own government. Many non-voters say, "My vote doesn't count."

In truth, the only vote that doesn't count is the one that isn't cast.