My Vote Didn't Count, No Seriously, It Didn't Happen
Dashed Dreams of Voting
By: Jessica Valadez

It was back in June when I registered myself to vote. When a friend asked me if I wanted to register I was not too thrilled about it. The question came up if I cared about voting and honestly my answer was no.   I did register, but only because my friend was going to a youth voter conference and for every person they got to register, they would get $5 each. So, I wasn't doing it for my future, the future of America or anyone else's. I was doing it to help out a friend.

It was around that time when I was Fahrenheit 9/11 and started realizing that President Bush wasn't all I made him out to be. I thought a president knew how to run our country, that he cares about all Americans and would do what was best for us. I didn't know our president was a money-hungry, oil-obsessed terrorist. Then towards the month of October I saw all this voting propaganda going around and it made me think twice about voting. When Puff Daddy started the "Vote or Die" campaign it hit me, all my favorite celebrities were encouraging teenagers in my age group to vote. I knew I absolutely had to go out and vote when I seen Mariah Carey wearing the "Vote or Die" shirt. Being a huge Mariah fan, I knew I had to go and support.

But after I registered, I had wait a hold month to make my vote count. For sure I was ready to vote and to set my ballot for Kerry. I did not want Bush running the country, because of Bush we are in this war. Thousands of innocent soldiers have died in action; people across seas are getting their heads chopped off.

Then the week of voting came!   I was ready, I am a legal citizen, I am of age for the first time, and this was my time to let my voice be heard. All my friends were hyped, people of all ages we talking about who they were going to vote for and it was all over the news, MTV and even on the community channel. As the days were getting closer, the registered voters were getting their sample ballots mailed out and I realized that I didn't get one. Then again, I wasn't too worried about it because they had to send these booklets out to millions of people. Then the days were numbering down and up to the day before the election I still didn't receive a damn thing! Maybe my name got lost in those millions of people. Then my friend broke it to me that he wasn't sure if he did the registration right. Now, I have to wait a whole four more years to vote. By that time I'll be 22.   Hopefully, my vote will count then.