Having just turned 18 this past summer, I'm excited to vote in the presidential election for the first time on Tuesday. Political stances aside, I've been getting bombarded within the past week or two with phone calls from both candidate's little helpers, and I've gotta say, it's getting pretty old.

"Can we count on your vote on Tuesday?"

"Uhhhh, I'm not sure who I've voting for yet."

"Well let me rattle off a laundry list of reasons why my candidate is awesome and the other one sucks!"

"Oh great, here's 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back. Please, tell me more!"

After "listening" to the rallying supporter's stories, I decided that maybe I should really start to look into the specifics of different policies, or in the least, check out some of the commercials. After having done so, I began to grow even more disgusted with this whole election process. I want to know the facts. What's their stance on the different issues. All the commercials combined couldn't help me out. They're all fulled with hatred and nasty comments about the opposing candidate. What has the electoral process come to? It almost makes you not want to vote at all.

In an age where propaganda and the media tend to sway some people's decisions on everyday issues, I find it important to keep a level head in one of the most important presidential elections in America's history. I'm sure you've heard it all before with such phrases as, "get out there and vote" and "vote or die" from MTV and Diddy, but in reality, it really is important that you have your voice heard, no matter who you decide to vote for.

So as November 4th continues to approach ever so quickly, try to disregard those negative, often deceitful, commercials, and remember to do the country one proud, and vote. I know I'll be standing in those lines for who knows how many hours, will you?

-- Sara