I just browbeat a co-worker into registering to vote

[skygazer]

God, I don't understand these people! Admittedly, she is young and not real bright but still... I was at the store where I work and I asked her if she was registered. She said no and that she didn't feel her vote would count anyway and politicians are all the same and yada, yada, yada. She told me that in her American Government class at school, the teacher had told them that their vote didn't count anyway.

Well, I kind of went off. I told her, first of all, that teacher should be fired. Second of all, the 2000 election was so close that if she and all the other apathetic morons had gotten off their asses and voted, we might not be in the fix we're in.

Third, I pointed out that many of the people who DO vote have financial interests in getting their candidate elected and it's critical that the common citizen's voice is heard. And fourth, I told her that it was disgraceful that, after women fought so hard to get the vote, people like her didn't use it.

As I left the store, I saw some women setting up a Kerry/Edwards table so I went right back in, found my friend and told her that when she took her break, she needed to go outside and register. She said she would. She may have just been trying to get the irate lunatic woman out of her face but I think she will. She has a lot of respect for me and did seem impressed by my arguments.

One at a time....

[helnwhls]

1. Good on ya!

[wryter2000]

2. Good for you!

What state are you in?

I found out my sister-in-law wasn't registered. That's fixed. (NY, btw)

[skygazer]

3. California

Not a swing state but it's so important to vote! I hate the apathy and I get very passionate about it.

[Eloriel]

7. Congressional and State offices are important too, don't forget

And GOOD FOR YOU!!! Your arguments were SUPERB.

[RobertSeattle]

4. An amazing # of people won't register to vote to avoid jury duty.

Boggles the mind...Such great citizenship.

[skygazer]

5. Not only that, it doesn't work

My husband was never registered before this year and he's been called for jury duty twice. I think they use the tax rolls or something.

[claudiajean]

6. Both the driver's license rolls and the voter rolls are used....

...to attempt to ensure greater demographic balance on juries.

The courts create a combined roster of the two lists - voters and drivers, and randomly issue jury notices from that list.

So if you either drive (or have a non-driving state identification card) or vote, eventually, you'll be called for jury duty.

I've been called five times and I'm not even 40.