I hope you are not saying you cast a ballot using somebody elses name

mpalm1968: Explain how you vote " not only for myself, but for the many friends I have".

FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!!!! My child did voting in school and my daughter talked about it for 2 hours after school tonight. We are not good role models if we don't. Don't know who to vote for close your eyes and point, anything will work just GO!

Because... I hope for a less arrogant America!

Why should you vote?
You vote for change/not to change.
I have always said that if you are happy with the way things are going, vote to keep it that way. If you not happy, vote to change it. That way you can say you did your part and tried to make a difference.

I vote not only for myself, but for the many friends I have in Iraq that ONCE AGAIN got screwed over on their absentee ballots.

1. It's your civic duty

Unfortunately, even in a record turnout year, less than 70% of the electorate will cast a ballot. Unlike the 90+% in iraq who risk death to vote in their first election.

Responsibility: To ensure a free and safe America.
Respect: To honor those who have fought, and fallen, to support your right to live in a free country and to vote as you decide, not as some one who decides for you.
Vote: To guarentee that all freedoms we take for granted are kept that way.
Voice: To let the elected officials know that they work for ALL the people, not just the party.
Remember: That the choices of freedoms of religion, press, speech and ability to vote, that we hold so important to our way of life, are just words in many nations of the world.
I vote because I can.

3 hours off, UNPAID to vote and at their discretion of what time they allow you off.

11. Vote because you employer is required by law to give you up to three hours off. :-)

Why vote... because it's the most fun you can have every four years on the first Tuesday in November :0).

I vote because we have the right to and to show the loyalty I have to my country. Every election, whether it's a local, a primary, or the "big one" as my kids call it, I take my children with me. We get up early and head to the polls before school. Never too young to show them how it's done. We even brought along my oldest daughters "baby" from health class. Made for good conversation while waiting in line.

Vote because if you don't, you have no right to complain about who gets elected/what happens afterwards

I vote because my first grade teacher works at the place I vote. I could not bear the shame of her knowing I did not vote...all these years later. Hi Mrs. Oliver!

gduwe- Freedoms are NOT "given". Your RIGHT to vote, the FREEDOMS you have are because men and women have and continue to fight, serve and protect this country we live in. Nothing is given, it is earned. Do not forget that!

No more automated phone calls from every corner of both parties. When I got home yesterday I had 7 messages from various people, from the local level all the way to Sen. Obama himself. Too bad these calls can't be put on the no call list.

IF YOU DON'T VOTE, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO COMPLAIN!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Because it will make you feel good once you did it. You now had a 'voice' in how you thought the county should be ran. It might not go your way, but you still had the opportunity to say so.

The biggest reason of all....BECAUSE YOU CAN! Think about how many people around the world do NOT get to choose their leaders. Vote because you can.

Yes, everyone should vote because of the freedoms we have been given. But if you still don't think it's that important, these are hopefully a few reasons to add a little incentive. Here's another one someone e-mailed me: "I get to get out of work early to vote."

Good ones Gina! It appears some didn't get the tongue in cheek reasons. Of course we vote for many other reasons. I'm headin' out to vote as soon as I finish this last key stroke.

metromilton - AMEN! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

For a minute , Gina I thought I was reading the Observer. Everyone should vote, why would you not. If you don't vote, you don't get to complain. Everyone's vote counts.

1-9....Tens of thousands of our fellow countrymen and woman have DIED to give us our freedoms. The very least you can do to respect them is excerise your right to vote by voting.

If you choose not to vote, you should loose all rights, claims,ect to complain about the issues facing our communities.

10...with a NO vote one the "save the lake" issue in E-ville you will save hundreds of $$$ on your taxes.....