While we have been counting down the days left to register to vote in Pennsylvania for the upcoming election, one very important point bears recognition: For those who intend to register, it is vital to do it sooner rather than later. If you are registering in Philadelphia -- or even if you think you are already registered -- contact Bob Lee at (215) 686-1500 to make sure that your registration was processed properly.
This is for your own protection, to be certain that you do not register in vain. For many, this election is the first opportunity to cast a vote, and it should not go to waste.
There are several dangers to registering at the last minute. First of all, mail can get delayed or lost. This is a simple fact of life, but it is too big a risk to run in this instance.
Second of all, leaving some time as a buffer affords new voters the opportunity to confirm the fact that they have indeed registered. Newly registered voters in Pennsylvania receive a Voter Identification Card confirming their registration, but that again takes time and can be lost.
In lieu of waiting for the card, registering sooner rather than later allows for time to contact your county voter registration office and confirm your registration. Most of us lead very busy lives at Penn. It is a lot to ask of someone to take time out of their schedule of classes, jobs and extracurricular activities to register, although doing so is fairly effortless.
It is also time-consuming to keep up with the election as it unfolds and the issues as they are (occasionally) debated. But John Kerry's appearance today at Hill Field is a golden opportunity for the undecided voter. Hear him speak, and allow yourself to either be convinced or not convinced by the points that he makes. He can win your vote or lose it, but if you remove yourself from the political process, then you are the one who loses.
If you find yourself besieged by people encouraging you to register, there is only one guaranteed way to get them to stop -- register now, before it is too late.
