Autumn in Maine is astonishing. The trees that have sheltered laughter and romance all summer long start to blush for their summer frivolity, turning the world from a green paradise to a surreal stroll through an Impressionist painting.
Even in Maine’s biggest city, nature is woven intricately through bits of the city. As I walk the path from Luther Bonney Hall to Bedford Street every day, I feel more and more like royalty as Mother Nature gilds my path with the richest red-gold leaves. The great wooden columns that adorn the asphalt walkway overshadow the ugly asphalt and soften the edges of industrialism.
But maybe you hadn’t recognized the magnificence that surrounds you in a Maine autumn. Maybe you’re too caught up in what you’re going to pay too much to eat at Aramark, or maybe you’re hoping the elevator is free so you don’t have to climb three flights of stairs to class. And maybe along with the natural splendor that infuses our world, you’ve also managed to miss the fact that the next presidential elections are less than a month away.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 67.7 percent of 18 to 24 year olds did not vote in the 2000 presidential elections. I imagine that you’ve heard this already if you’re capable of reading and not caught in a zombie-like trance. Does it bother you that better than half of our peer group didn’t put in their say on who would run our country next? Maybe it should. Maybe you should do something about it.
No voting-age citizen on this campus should have an excuse not to vote. I live in a different state. I’m not registered. I don’t have a ride to the polls. I don’t know anything about the candidates. None of those holds water.
If you live out of state, or even in a different district, you can apply for an absentee ballot at the city clerk’s office and vote today if you wanted to. Even simpler than that, if you can prove that you have an address in Maine, you can register as a Maine voter and vote at the polls.
Registering to vote in Maine is simple. You need two forms of ID: one picture ID, and something that proves your places of residence. No one can stop you from voting; if you have any trouble, you can call the Elections Bureau at 207.624.7650 from the polls.
If you don’t have a ride, take a look around. Chances are good that you’ll be able to find groups of people carpooling to the poles. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of Maine’s beautiful fall weather, which you are no longer ignoring, I’m sure.
You can cast your vote at City Hall, Merrill Auditorium, Reiche Elementary School, or St. Patrick’s Church all of which are within a reasonable walking distance of the Portland campus. You can find a complete list of Maine polling places on the Maine State website.
If you don’t know anything about the candidates, do a little research. Run a web search on party platforms. Watch the presidential debates-the next debate is going to be held on October 8 at 9 p.m. Keep an eye out for the speakers that politically active student groups bring to campus, like Chris Heinz and Howard Dean.
You’re in college; you have a plethora of resources at your fingertips to find out what’s going on. You have no excuse to still be ignorant of the issues by the time November 2 rolls around.
Enjoy the Maine autumn. Educate yourself to vote and use your vote. Get off yer arse and pay attention.