I make sure that I vote in every election not just as the exercise of the privilege granted by law, but also in memory of every Black person that was killed, maimed, tortured, etc., in this country for daring to stand up to racism in this country.

Does the remarkable black woman president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf count? She received her Masters Degree from Harvard.

 Without knowing how the sales of slaves came about, I do know they were treated abominably, abysmally, with unspeakable horror, so let us not blame the victims here.

I became a US citizen so I could vote, and have never missed an opportunity, including voting for Dick Gregory in a primary - still smile when I look at that button!

I was rebellious, militant, and stupid when I came of voting age.  I deluded myself into believing that not voting was making an anti-American anti-establishment statement about the inequity towards the poor, minorities, and the underprivileged in America.  

Then I grew up … and have voted ever since. 

Miss a presidential election?  Never!  I’ve always seen it as my patriotic duty to try and keep Republicans out of office.

As a woman - Everytime its time to VOTE I think about what happened to all those women in the past who died or beaten or jailed for OUR right to VOTE now…I vote b/c its one of the small ways I have a voice in the Country that I LOVE.  Whatever your reasons for voting - past, present or future, keep VOTING.  Don’t stop - it is our RIGHT to do so!!!

well, irish eyes, you appear to be the judge/moderator and in a civil discussion someone has to be. for me voting is an important right, but one that is dilluted by the electoral college. you probably have another opinion on that as well. also, when i do not like either candidate - and there are really only two valid choices (my opinion) - i will not rubber-stamp one with my vote. i do not see any imperitive to vote for someone i do not like. when i disagree with most of their platform, then i do not vote for them. so, in the past, i’ve gotten informed about most presidential candidates (including most gubanatorial and congressional ones), but in the past there have been many times when i did not vote, due to the lack of a candidate that advocated what i believe in. anyone has (and should have) the right to vote or not. it’s not a right if you must do it - it’s an obligation. when it’s an obligation, we are not free to choose whether to do it or not. we exercise rights. we must perform obligations to avoid penalties. and, you have made the case in re. the penalty for not exercising the right to vote. i take exception when i don’t like the candidates. not voting sends a message (vaguely) as well. your turn to lecture/educate.

I can’t vote yet! I so much look forward to the day I turn 18 and am able to finally register.

I’ve missed many, many local elections (not proud of that) but I don’t recall missing a presidential election, except of course for those I was ineligible to vote in!  :)  Local elections should be taken much more seriously but sad to say, there is so much corruption at the local level, at least where I live, that it saddens, no frightens, me to think about what’s going on higher up!  For me, it always comes down to whose bulls**t am I willing to put up with for the next four years.  I trust none of them, no matter how much they try to sway me….doesn’t matter what side of the political coin they’re on.  Believe it or not, I used to be an optimist.  Now, I’m a realist.