Editorial
Published: May 8, 2008

More Americans who want a say-so in the direction of this nation will make their voices heard.

Voter registration is up an incredible 65 percent this year compared with 2004, the year of the previous presidential election.

Perhaps the Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama saga, which is great news for those cable news networks looking for ratings, has caught their interest.

Regardless, far more Americans are interested in this year’s election than the one before.

More than 3.5 million people have registered to vote this year.

It’s refreshing to see so many Americans choosing to let their voices be heard rather than stand in silence as others select their leaders for them. We’ve had men and women die in the line of duty fighting for this very right. For years, women and minorities fought through the courts for this right.

And what we see in voter registration is the fruit of their labor. When we see a line at the voting booth, that’s what America is all about — citizens exercising their choice, their vote.
It’s just another reminder that freedom and democracy are luxuries that so many others across the world do not have.

But we urge voters not to let their emotions tied to a single issue completely effect how they will vote at the polls. Part of our right to vote is voting responsibly. America cannot afford to have thousands of voters cast blind ballots, with decisions made on emotion because of a single issue or demographic.

New voters should take the time between now and November to study the issues and make themselves better informed.

If they’re going to be registered voters, they must give themselves all the knowledge possible to make their respective best choices.

By voting responsibly, we take time to learn about the candidates and all of the issues.

We weigh the positives and negatives of both sides rather than making a knee-jerk reaction and cast an emotional vote for a candidate simply because of one issue or demographic.

Watch and read the news. Study the issues.

Then, when you’re waiting in line at the polls, remember those who paved the way to give you that right.