Free food, music and democracy

Tonight from 7 to 10 pm on the Gregory Gym Plaza, there will be free food, live music and most importantly, voter registration, in a race before the deadline at midnight.

[One of Shepard Fairey's posters, you may have seen the Obama print around]

If you’re too good for free food and music, you can register at tables located across campus from 10 am to 4 pm. The tables will be hosted by different organizations, because Udems, College Republicans, The Daily Texan, Student Government and the Student Events Center are working together for the non-partisan event.

And again, if you’re registered in a different county and don’t want to visit home to vote, you can change your voter registration to Travis county with the same form as new registration.

Burnt Orange Report has made a handy dandy place of voter registration map for the many local businesses staying open late for the deadline.

If you haven’t already, please register to vote. Some people argue that there’s so much more you can do in the way of civil participation and they don’t bother with voting but it’s the easiest form of participation in our government, just like recycling is the easiest way to better the environment. Do it!

Register to vote by Oct. 6

Please

Please

Please

Vote. Please. Do it.

And please think about the largest, long-term important issues, such as the economy, energy dependence and war. And health and education. We need a capable and reasonable leader to deal with these issues competently. A Los Angeles Times editorial piece made a great point today; moral issues such as gay marriage and abortion shouldn’t be at the top of our worry lists right now. Not with almost 95,000 Iraqi civilians and 4,000 U.S. soldiers dead and the worst day in the stock market since 2001 looming over our heads.

So please consider the issues, watch how the candidates carry themselves during the election, especially in interviews and speeches and make an informed vote.

If you’re a college student deciding not to vote because you’re still registered in Podunk County, USA, stop by the West Mall and fill out a form for new or changed voter registration. It takes 2 minutes, or you can grab a form, fill it out and mail it yourself. Known mail boxes on campus are across from the FAC near the architecture building and by the PLC next to the ATMs. Do it now, the last day to register is October 6.