by Michael Cannata

Created on: November 17, 2008

I'm 56 years old and was born in America. I have always been proud of that fact more than anything. But I share a common bond with half of those Americans who have the special right that makes America great. Save for one exception, I have never voted in any election... local, state or national... in my entire life.

Most people would say that makes me the epitome of an apathetic voter. But they would be wrong. The tendency to label people who don't register and vote as apathetic is something that people do, often without basis. Apathy might be behind many people's reasoning when it comes to voting. But there are a great many people who do not vote for other, more serious reasons. Feelings of disenfranchisement, powerlessness, exclusion, futility and hopelessness have just as much a part in people's decisions to stay away from the polling place.

I am anything but apathetic when it comes to my right to vote. I would love to be able to enter a polling place and register my opinion on Election Day. For me there is a big problem when it comes to voting. I want to be able to voice my opinion and have my vote counted like everyone else. Unfortunately, under the current system we have in America I can't. And by not voting I become a member of the majority of American voters. In almost every election held there are more people who don't vote than do.

If the uncast votes of all those people who didn't take part in any given election were registered as votes against either candidate, their number would beat out the votes of any candidate by a landslide. Over half the voters care so little or think so little of the candidates and the election process that they never even bother to take part. That is an enormously serious indictment of the failure of both the election process and our leaders to inspire or demand voter participation.

The problem isn't that I don't care about whether I vote or not... the problem is that my government doesn't care whether I do. The fact that almost 50% of eligible voters refuse to take part in the single most important civic duty that our democratic society asks of us doesn't seem to bother our elected leaders. Unless you are a member of their political party they don't care much what you think. If you're not a registered voter you don't count at all.

Democrats and Republicans are considered the only legitimate political organizations. Over the course of a campaign their candidates are given the full attention of the national media. Independent

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