Our votes better count!

I'm watching American Blackout on TVOne. I had seen small snippets of this documentary but had never watched it fully. The story is amazing and heart-breaking at the same time. It talks about the issues related to voting for the presidential elections of 2000 and more recently 2004. What made my eyes pop out of my head and tears roll down my face was the focus on Ohio. Better yet Columbus, Ohio? That's me!! What's going on in Columbus?

American Blackout showed video clips of Columbus, OH in 2004. There were ridiculously long election lines for people in central Columbus. And of course the focus was on voting locations in urban areas which were inhabited primarily by African-American voters. And I remember this. I remember waiting two hours to vote in 2004 and I lived in a pretty nice neighborhood. So now I can't imagine what African-American voters around the city had to face. These people waited around for hours even sometimes in the rain or just to get turned away and told to go to another voting location for no justifiable reason?

Plus, you have the college students. I remember the local news showing footage of OSU students waiting in long lines to vote. And it was obvious then and it's obvious now that the powers that be didn't want young people or African-Americans to vote in Ohio. Because they know...

WE ARE THE VOTE!!!

And while every election is important, this 2008 presidential election has proven to be one of, if not the most, historic elections ever. Anyone can predict that this will be the biggest voter turnout in history. I have never seen so much enthusiasm and passion in young Americans about voting. I'm in grad school at Ohio University. And once school started, I couldn't walk two feet without someone asking me if I'm registered to vote. (I think I'm going to where a t-shirt saying *registered voter* next election and save people the trouble of asking me) And there were so many booths and informational sessions for young people on how and where to vote. I was loving it! It was making me excited about this election and proud to be an American with this privilege.

And the obvious reason this election is historic ---- Mr. Barack (as cool as he wants to be) Obama!! The first time ever an African-American has been elected as a Presidential candidate to a major political party.

I would have to say the craziest thing to happen to me was at Taco Bell. Yeah, I made a late night run to Taco Bell one evening. And as the guy handed me my bag, he slightly pulled the bag back and said "Are you registered to vote?". I smiled and said confidently, "of course". I loved it!! Even the guy at Taco Bell wants to make sure I'm registered to vote. Now that's what I'm talking about.

I only hope that this election will not be a repeat of 2000 and 2004 meaning I know who I voted for. And I know who the majority of young people, college students, and African-Americans voted for. And it wasn't who's currently in office.

2008 will be different. It's a new year with new hope.

Our votes better count!!

Also, if anyone knows the phone number you can call in your respective cities if citizens have voter issues, please place them in the Comments section below.