Overview

Many students are constantly asking "Why should I vote?" When asked why they don't vote, they cite reasons such as feeling ignored by politicians, feeling unimportant in the voting process, or being uninformed. According to the 2005 American Community Survey there are approximately 26 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 24. That's close to 10% of the entire national population. In 1998 less than 20% of eligible voters ages 18-24 voted.

Educating yourself about the candidates and issues is your personal responsibility. Look at it this way, if you care about healthcare, welfare or social security; if you care about foreign policy, international trade, or overseas military involvement; if you care about hate crimes, terrorism, or individual rights; if you care about environmental protection, education and jobs then you owe it to yourself, your community and your country to educate yourself and vote.

You may not be 18 yet, but if your 18th birthday is before the general election on November 4th, then you are eligible to vote in both the primary and general elections.

Visit vote.ky.gov for more information on voting, elections, and Kentucky government.