The New Year is here, and with that, so is a new election year. The 2008 Presidential Election was known for having the highest turnout since Richard Nixon’s election in 1968. However, the large amount of citizens is still low when compared to those eligible to vote. Of the 215 million people eligible to vote only 61.6% or 131 million people actually voted.

This statistic shows the alarming amount of people who still do not view voting as a priority. There are several reasons why voting might be on the bottom of citizen’s to do lists such as the busyness of their schedule, the unfavorable candidates, long lines, or a general negative mindset towards the election.  The most common reason for citizens to not participate is the attitude that their vote does not count. This attitude can be quite detrimental as each individual vote counts. It can be hard for us as individual citizens to consider our vote a difference maker in such a large race but it truly is!

The United States Presidential election of 2012 will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The 2012 presidential election will coincide with the senate elections where 33 races will be occurring as well as the state representative’s election.

As you construct and implement your 2012 resolutions this New Year try giving voting more of a priority and see the difference you can make!