It’s been said before, yes, but repetition makes it no less true. If you don’t vote, you lose your way to choose how your country, state, county and city are run.

Many non-voting students make the argument that it doesn’t matter, so why bother; that the system is the system, and it can’t be beat. Others make no argument at all, they just don’t consider voting important. Some go even further by not voting for the simple reason that also explains why they may not follow the news, read books, exercise or maintain good grooming habits: an embarrassing mix of ignorance and laziness.

Primary elections will be held in Iowa Tuesday. The primary is the process of picking the candidates that will represent their respective parties in November’s election. Registered Republicans, Democrats and Greens get to vote for who should be on each applicable ticket. Independents or those who want to vote in another party’s primary can even change their party affiliation for the day, just long enough to vote.

Are these primary elections as weighty as the actual election in a few months? No. But there are important races coming up in November, including those for Iowa governor, U.S. senator and representatives and state senators and representatives.

Students often criticize the choices they are given on Election Day. Certainly there were rumblings among the college-aged during the 2000 presidential election that neither candidate was worth a hoot. Preventing that from happening is exactly why we have today’s primaries. They’re how those choices are made.

Of course none of us are na‹ve. We know that politics are not always so noble. We know about the corrupting influence of money and the undue influence of special interest groups.

But don’t forget a simple fact that will stay true as long as America stands. No politician is ever guaranteed anything. None is all-powerful. All can be cast out. All it takes to get rid of a bum is for the people who are ticked to go out and vote for somebody better.

Sadly, the people that get ticked rarely vote. The ones who can see what is wrong become so disillusioned they don’t care. It’s that apathy that hurts this country more than anything else.

The only way to combat that is to make voting a habit. Make it so requisite in your mind that failing to vote causes your stomach to drop to your knees. Relish and cherish the opportunity to give your input. Realize it is all you have, the only weapon against bad government.

For information on polling places and sample ballots, call the Story County Auditor at 382-7210 or check the auditor’s office out on the Internet at www.storycounty.com/auditor/default1.html.

Editorial Board: Dave Roepke, Erin Randolph, Charlie Weaver, Megan Hinds, Rachel Faber Machacha