Can't wait for Tuesday to be over

Don't get me wrong, I've taken more of an interest in politics this year than I have at any other time in my life.

I've even converted my husband. For the first time in his life he's registered to vote. Not only is he a registered voter, he spends time watching the news and listening to the candidates. Since he has control of the remote control every night, I was sure I would miss the three debates (two presidential and one vice-presidential). He actually tuned into them without any begging.

I told him several weeks ago that I would have control of the television on election night, but it seems as though I'll have more of a role than I had originally expected. After covering the primaries for the Associated Press, I've been invited back to the Red Willow county clerk's office to report the county's results to the national AP Bureau on election night.

Politics were never very important to me until I started working at the Gazette in 2000. I always figured my voice would not be heard and whatever vote I might cast would be the wrong one.

Then one day I was complaining about something an elected official had done. A friend asked me who I voted for in the election and I nonchalantly informed them I wasn't registered to vote.

"Then what right do you have to complain about anything?" my friend asked me.

It was as though a light bulb came on.

My friend was right. If I didn't vote and express my voice when I had the chance I had no right to express my voice after the decision had been made. Within a week, I went to the county clerk's office and registered to vote. I've hit the ballot box ever since.

No matter which party wins this year, it will be a historical decision. But the race shouldn't be based on the fact that 43 years after the National Voting Rights Act of 1965, a black man could hold the highest office in the land or the fact that for the second time in history, a woman could be the second in command of the greatest country in the world.

I hope that when you go to the voting booth, you vote for the person who best reflects the values you believe in.

With the many important issues facing this country today -- the War in Iraq, the nation's economy, taxes, and health care reform, just to name a few -- it's important to ignore race and gender and vote on platform.

And remember, unless you get out and vote, your voice will be ignored -- both now and when you decide to start complaining next Wednesday morning.

And if you missed the registration deadline, wait and see what happens Tuesday. If you don't like how it turned out, or even if you do … get yourself registered and vote the next time you get the opportunity -- otherwise sit down, be quiet and remember you and others like you could have made a difference if you had made the effort to get out and make your voice matter.