OK, so the Votergasm thing is a little off the wall, but I for one think there’s a slightly more common phenomenon that, while not as interesting, is certainly more annoying: How many times in the last month have you been accosted by someone asking, imploring or downright begging you to register to vote?

Case in point: The other night, my roommate and I were walking down to the mailboxes to mail our absentee ballots, which we had just completed. En route, we were mobbed by a small crowd of people trying to get us to register to vote, which we had just done. In that situation, it is really all that any reasonable person can do to not hold up the little brown ballot envelope clearly marked “Absentee Ballot Enclosed” and ask them about their reading skills.

Not only is this a reflection on their intelligence, but it’s really rather obtrusive and annoying. Most of these “Register to Vote” operations are run by one of the parties or campaigns, and, frankly, I would think it is for their own good not to annoy, harass or otherwise displease the very people they’re trying to attract.

Every election we are left to wonder why voter turnout is as low as it is. Maybe if we checked into the methods of those who are attempting to get out those very votes, we might find our answer.

Ryan Frederick

Freshman

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