As a high school student, I consider myself well informed in the political arena. I understand the ideas of welfare programs, taxes, and social policies. When deciding who to support in an election, I learn about the platforms of candidates before I start jumping from one to another. For the upcoming 2008 election, I think it is important for everyone to make certain realizations before they vote:
1. Know what you are voting for:
It is not acceptable for a Hillary Clinton supporter to not know what social welfare programs are. Understand what a candidate stands for. Just because you are a Republican and don't like John McCain doesn't make it a good idea to vote for a Democrat. Just because you don't like Obama doesn't mean vote for McCain. Vote for the person who values the same things in their policy that you do in your political beliefs.
2. Don't vote on personality, vote on the issues:
Just because you like John McCain or Barak Obama's personality does not mean you should vote solely based on this.
3. Don't vote because of race:
Don't vote for McCain or Hillary for being white. Don't vote Obama because he is black. Know your candidate.
4. Don't vote on your sex:
I have heard the following from women way too much: "I am voting for Hillary Clinton." and then when asked why they can not name specific policies they support of her's and fall back on, "Because she is a woman." Vote on issues, vote on policy, don't vote on something seemingly irrelevant.
5. Don't be afraid to vote:
Just because you don't like either candidates doesn't mean you shouldn't vote. Generally, candidates aren't great for the Presidency. Presidential elections for me come down to "the lesser of all evils".
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I agree, and would take it so far as to tell uninformed voters to stay home on election day. I don't want their prejudices and misinformation to affect who becomes the next President of the United States. It's important to have your voice heard, but you have to understand what that voice is saying in order to make an intelligent and informed decision at the polls.