Let He Who Is With or Without Complaint Cast the First Vote

        Any of you who know me (or have read much this blog) know that I am a bit of a political enthusiast. So, naturally, that’s why I want to spend a post reminding you to vote next month. Right? Wrong. Absolutely wrong! I am writing about voting today because I am a human being blessed to be an American citizen with the God-given right and personal responsibility to participate in the management of my government which affects my everyday life. Thus, I am writing for the same reason any of you should. (And you’re reading because you are nice people.) While I could (and later might) spend many paragraphs writing and philosophizing about the value and importance of our votes, the election process, and the flawed beauty of our representative democracy, I really just want to give two simple but vital reminders.
        First, to my fellow registered voters, remember that November 4 is the next federal Election Day. Here in Tennessee, as in most states, it is also a state Election Day. Many important decisions will be made – by us. Take it seriously and do your duty. Regardless of who you vote for, your opinion has virtually no value after an election if you did not participate in the collective decision-making in which we as a community and society engage. To my fellow Tennesseans, remember that there are more than just office-holder elections on this ballot. Four state constitutional amendments will be put before us too. During my years of working for the General Assembly, I actually witnessed the beginnings of some of those amendments in process. I now remind us all to participate in the most important step – the direct addition of our voices. Though November 4 is Election Day, remember that the convenience of early voting adds to your ability to be extra sure your vote is cast, counted, and unhindered. I always vote early (less rush, smaller crowds). For this election cycle, October 15 through October 30 will serve as the early voting period in Tennessee. To learn more about time and voting cites, contact your County Election Commission. Regardless of when or where or for whom, just VOTE!

        Second, to those reading who are not yet registered to vote, I offer this… Ask yourself “How old am I?” If the answer is 18 or any age beyond that, then ask yourself another question, “Am I registered to vote?” If the answer is “No,” then you have work to do tomorrow. In Tennessee, tomorrow, October 6, is the deadline to register to vote in the November 4 election. You must personally submit a registration form to your County Election Commission or have a mail-in form postmarked tomorrow. The registration process in incredibly simple (and, frankly, you should have done it the day you turned 18). Note that if you have moved since you last voted, you must follow the same basic process to change your registration. I want to give a shoutout to my friend and Tennessee’s Coordinator of Elections, Mark Goins, who not only does a terrific job managing a complicated process statewide but has dedicated much effort to encouraging new voter registrations. September was Voter Registration Month and, through his efforts, hundreds of new voters registered in time for the coming elections with just a few weeks. Just as important, they are ready to vote in every election to come and begin feeling more connected to the communities for which we are responsible. Through multiple forms of media, Mark has taken the promotion of voter registration to the streets and reminded us that everyone should register and vote (often by showing us who already has). If you are of age and a Tennessee resident and are not yet registered, you can print the form found at http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/forms/ss-3010.pdf, fill it out and mail it (early tomorrow!) to your County Election Commission office. Better yet, visit the office in person. It’s always good to get to know the folks we trust with one of the most precious duties in our local governments. You can find your local election office at http://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php. For more details and info, visit the Secretary of State’s (Tre Hargett, another awesome guy) voter registration information page at http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/election/registration.htm. Please register. Please vote. You’re the only person who can make America the America that you want.        Whether you are already registered or need to register (tomorrow!), if you are a qualified voter, I hope to see YOU at the polls on Election Day or during early voting. Too many people who have registered don’t vote, and too many adults who could register never do or wait too long. We must change both trends. For all the public service announcements that are out there about talking to your kids about sex or smoking or talking to your friends about drinking and drugs (all very important) and other things, perhaps there will one day be room for a PSA about voter apathy. Fellow voters, talk to your friends and family about their voter registration AND participation level. If you’re not comfortable talking about politics, then don’t. Just talk about voting. Voting is a right to be respected, a privilege bought by many lives, and a duty to be taken seriously so that we as a people can still control our destiny. Don’t miss the boat – GO VOTE!

Hey, I don't just vote in Nashville... I also watch it on TV.
Glad to see Chip Esten, a great actor/musician, promoting voter registration.
Thanks, Deacon!

Whoa! Imperial defectors. Goins reaches every corner of the universe.
Glad to see some of the Emperor's old followers have seen the light.
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic - to democracy!"