two reasons not to give a crap about the election

On Election Day 2005, I wrote:

A couple of days ago—long past the time anything could be done about today's elections—someone I prize wisecracked in a conversation about state and local politics, "I'm not registered to vote, so I don't give a crap."

Without much thought, but I hope not too ungenerously, I cracked back: "Should that be, 'I don't give a crap, so I'm not registered to vote?'" 

I get it that people don't believe their vote can make a difference in the kind of world (or neighborhood) where children grow up. But I'm still surprised when parents and would-be parents, youth workers and people who care about the young, don't force their way to the front of that line -- just in case it should turn out they're wrong.

I don't think this election is any less consequential than the 2005 state and local elections that sparked that exchange. And for millions of us in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming, it's not too late to give a crap, and register, and vote.

• Tomorrow, October 22, 2012 is the last day people in California, Iowa, South Dakota and Wyoming can register to vote in this year's general election. 
• Tuesday, October 23 in the final day of voter registration in Connecticut. 
• Friday, October 26 is the final day to register in Alabama. 
• New Hampshire's last registration day is Saturday, October 27.
• Wednesday October 31 is the last day to register in Vermont.

 [Dates courtesy of RocktheVote.com]