Elections bring out people's passion.
For example, dedicated volunteers registered more than 98,520 new voters by getting pies in the face and handing out Hershey kisses. The real test will be whether those newly registered voters will vote on Nov. 4. My hope is that Americans take an example from other countries, where democracy is important and every person's vote matters.
This past week, protestors in Thailand have been fighting to change the system of democracy in their country. The urban elite is butting heads with the rural poor, and blood has been spilled because of that clash.
The prime minister escaped from Parliament by jumping over a back fence after giving a speech.
I can just imagine Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi kicking off her heels to scale a wall as other politicians leave suitcases and patent leather shoes behind to escape conflict.
Hopefully we are able to have a peaceful election without protestors taking control of Washington, D.C. But Thai activists represent a passion for politics that has been displayed in other countries. It's a passion that has been shown infrequently in American elections.
People have said frequently during election years: "My generation cares too little for the government system that protects us."
During a seven-week trip to Cambodia this summer, I had the opportunity to witness the Asian country's Election Day. It is a rare event, happening once every four or five years. The space between votes depends on the government as well as the king, who acts as a figurehead like Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth. So the excitement continued to build throughout my stay there.
As I traveled through the country, buses and taxis were frequently delayed by election parades held by the different political parties.
In Cambodia, there are no debates, no interviews on Meet the Press or fancy television ads. Campaigning involves loading hundreds of people in matching shirts into trucks and driving through the streets playing candidates' speeches over a PA system.
Picture Barack Obama's campaign workers setting up a megaphone outside your house to broadcast into your room at 6 a.m. It's a pleasant experience.
On Election Day, the entire city of Phnom Penh shut down so everyone could vote. After casting their ballots, voters dip their pointer finger into a jar of black ink to keep them from trying to vote twice.
Every one over the age of 18 voted, with a 95 percent turnout.
Although the election results were not a surprise -- the same political party has been in power for 20 years -- Cambodians said they knew it was important to be a part of the political process.
Do Americans care that much?
With the economy in crisis and an ongoing war overseas, this election has become one of the most important events in recent years. A change will hopefully help turn this country around.
But regardless of the outcome at the polls, I hope this election will leave another mark in history, a record number of young voters. The movement that has been occurring at Penn State over the past two months is an encouragement.
Jessica Turnbull is a senior majoring in journalism and is The Daily Collegian's Friday columnist. Her e-mail address is jlt5044@psu.edu.
