 "Photo: N/A")
Our founding fathers believed that the greatest threat to tyranny is an educated electorate.
Here on the campus of N.C. Central Unive-rsity, we are getting educated, but why aren't we voting as the electorate?
Two years ago, NCCU had a record turnout of eligible voters, with a 90 percent participation in the 2008 presidential election.
Early-voting numbers reflect only a 6 percent participation in the 2010 mid-term elections.
I sincerely hope that number jumps.
What happened? Where are the voters who showed up in droves to elect President Obama?
Mid-term elections are just as important, if not more important, than the presidential elections.
Mid-term elections can shift the power balance in the legislature.
The elections in 2008 had unified the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House under Democratic leadership.
The unified leadership has been very productive, successfully passing health care legislation and increasing financial aid for students and more.
That unification is under threat.
North Carolina election officials estimate that about 45 percent of the registered voters will vote in the 2010 elections, up from 36 percent in 2006.
The mid-term elections are nowhere near as glamorous as the presidential election, but they are very important.
Did you know that the officials we elected on Nov. 2 will be responsible for redistricting based off the information from the U.S. Census Bureau?
What that means is that they will be able to change the boundaries of the voting districts and precincts to be more favorable to their constituents and political party.
It is illegal to redistrict based on a racial bias.
The national elections affect us on the macroscopic level, the leadership and direction of our government is determined by political party ideals and personal political goals.
Mid-term elections and local elections have a much more direct impact on our daily lives.
School districts, bus routes, regulations , zoning of property and more are all impacted by local and regional elections.
Having the right judge on the bench can make a huge difference in the carriage or the miscarriage of justice.
Too often, we take our system of government for granted and think that voting is something we should only do if we have the time to.
There are many nations in the world where the people do not have the right to vote or the right to have their say in a representative government.
Ask the Iraqis whose fingers were stained purple after they waited in line under oppressive conditions to exercise their right to vote after Saddam's regime fell.
How much easier could it be to vote at NCCU? Our voting precinct is on campus…how hard is rolling out of bed?
Do you really want to let other people make your decisions for you?
I know I certainly don't. Exercise your right, exercise your power, vote and make your voice heard.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now