As the November election draws closer and candidates solicit votes, and the masses try to avoid some — if not all — negative campaign advertising, we are bombarded by one underlying theme.

It is our duty — no, our responsibility — to vote.

Unfortunately, this credo of civic duty is flawed.

For years “Get out and vote” has been the battle cry of politicians across the nation. And why shouldn’t it be? The more people convinced to make it to the polls, the better chance candidates have of victory.

It’s all about the numbers, the demographics.

The elusive percentage points politicians yearn for.

And guess what? We are it, the new breed, quickly becoming the majority. But what kind of majority are we becoming?

One with an attention span of minutes.

One with a laissez faire attitude toward things that don’t directly concern us.

One whose interest in voting is not at a premium.

We’ve heard it all before; it’s been drummed into our heads since the beginning of school: It’s our right and our privilege to vote.

People have struggled, fought and died for this right and should covet the responsibility that comes with it.

So what do you do with a generation that, for the most part, doesn’t care?

It’s simple, don’t stress the act of of voting, stress the importance of being an educated voter. People march into voting booths every election without a clue as to why they are there, but seem to have a nice time punching the pretty buttons. This doesn’t help anyone.

The time has come for a new motto, more applicable to a growing number of apathetic youth.

If you don’t know, don’t go.

Iowa State is a perfect example of the untapped power an informed and educated populace could achieve. The university has an enrollment of 27,000 students. Granted, not all who are registered at Iowa State are registered to vote. But almost half of Ames’ population is made up of ISU students. The political possibilities are endless; only a few seem to understand the power the students at Iowa State could wield. Student groups such as GSB, ISU Republicans, ISU Democrats and Time for Peace are addressing these issues by launching voter registration campaigns and trying to increase political awareness.

Apathy is in no way an excuse for lack of knowledge. An understanding of policy, issues and the people you’re voting for is far more important than the simple act of voting. Yes, everyone has the responsibility to vote, but more importantly, the responsibility to know what you’re voting about.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Rachel Faber Machacha, Charlie Weaver, Zach Calef, Ayrel Clark.