A few years ago, Proposition 54 (http://www.smartvoter.org/2003/10/07/ca/state/prop/54/), a measure to eliminate race from all public records, was put on the California ballot. Well aware of the fact that simply eliminating the race category would not eliminate its importance in society overnight, I rallied with others to make sure this measure was defeated. While the measure failed by a landslide, I remember receiving a note in the mail informing me that my vote was not counted because my absentee ballot did not arrive at City Hall by the deadline. I'm sure I wasn't the only "disenfranchised" college student...

Flashforward to Election Year 2008 (seems like we've been at this for quite a while already): I call City Hall to make sure my vote counts and am told that I can go ahead and participate in early voting in-person. I head over to City Hall; one of the workers finds that I've worked as an inspector for Special Elections back in 2006, which earned me the title of "experienced inspector." They're in need of inspectors for the primaries, she informs me. I willingly sign up to pick up 500+ ballots and serve as an inspector for Super Tuesday, which means I have to show up at my designated precinct at 6am. Why are you doing this to yourself, April Joy?! As if MCATs, my Blueprint for Social Justice, and the x number of extracurricular activities aren't enough-- why bother with the primaries?

I recall the words of my father, who immigrated from the Philippines 30 years ago: "I vote because I want my voice to be heard." Talk about political activism: reading from at least seven different news sources, going out to different communities and engaging in dialogue about various issues from the economy to the war in Iraq, and making sure that at each election, his voice is heard vis-a-vis his completed ballot.

As I entered the training for experienced inspectors, I found that out of the 20+ inspectors present, only 2 of us were under 60+ (and I actually knew the other young person).

So this is why I vote and this is why I take the time out to represent at the precincts, including during primaries. I do it to counteract the perception of young people as an apathetic generation. I do it for my ancestors who help built and contribute to this country, but whose voice has and continues to be left out textbooks of political mainstream. I do it for my father who despite not being native to this country, has demonstrate greater patriotism than many American-born citizens I know. Above all, I do it because I can.

I'm probably preaching to the choir, but please, make sure you're registered and your vote counts on Super Tuesday and the subsequent elections to come, and make sure your family/friends do likewise.