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Staff Editorial: Your right, your choice – vote

The Texas primary today will probably be a deciding factor in the Democratic race for the nomination. But that is not why we should all, those of us who can, get out and vote in the primary and, for Democrats, then caucus this evening (See story, Page 1).

Now is the time for all Texans to make their voices count – make their voices heard.

College students already have a hard enough time getting the government to listen to what’s important to them on topics such as rising tuition costs and inadequate financial aid. By voting we can show those in power that we do give a damn about the state of our country and that we do plan to have a say in how our future will be decided.

It doesn’t matter that presidential hopeful John McCain has the Republican nomination practically in the bag.

If you support him, go vote for him. Those who pine after Mike Huckabee should vote for him today, too.

For the Democrats, it has come down to Hillary Clinton versus Barack Obama. The Texas election outcome is too close to call, according to The Houston Chronicle. Your vote could quite possibly make the difference between Obama or Clinton winning Texas.

Too many people in this country take the right to vote for granted. During the recent parliamentary elections in Pakistan, many people stayed away from the polls because of the threat of militant-incited violence, according to NPR.

Despite the fear the citizens of Pakistan faced, many of the parliamentary seats went to the challenging parties the Pakistan Peoples’ Party and the Pakistan Muslim League because Pakistani voters refused to have their right taken away from them. Though the elections’ implications for the U.S. remain to be seen, the Pakistani people made their own choices about who will lead their country.

We have confidence that Texans across the state will take this opportunity to exercise their right to vote, a right situations like the one in Pakistan should teach us to hold dear.

Also, while voting, keep the issues in mind. It doesn’t make sense to vote for Clinton simply because she is the wife of a former president – his experience as president was not hers. Voting for Obama simply because he’s black is just as nonsensical.

Voting, and voting for the candidate you believe in, would best benefit this nation, and everyone should take a few minutes to have a voice in today’s primary.

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