Only 39 percent of registered voters showed up to vote in Taylor and Nolan counties in November, despite a major election with two hot issues on the ballot: the tax-freeze for the elderly and the citywide public smoking ban. Nearly four months later, business owners of local shops and restaurants, where smoking was once allowed, turned in more than 8,000 signatures by 5 p.m. Monday protesting the smoking ban that took effect in December.

The city requires the owners to have at least 6,557 valid signatures, which means signatures of Taylor county registered voters. While it will be next week before enough signatures are validated, there is a chance the petitioner could cause a revote on the smoking ban issue.

With so much opposition appearing now, why did more voters not turn out to vote back in November? Did voters not realize the issue would actually be enforced? Or did the smokers in the city just not turn out to vote?

If only a mere 6,500 signatures could be the deciding factor to give voters a chance to swing the ban back to allowing smokers to smoke in public places, what could happen if this many people had simply showed up to vote? Voting in one’s hometown or place of residency is important for more than the fact that by voting one shows support of his city. Voting also creates changes and sets trends.

Elections in local towns are important because they directly affect the voters, but what about the national elections? What would happen if no one showed up to vote, but thousands were opposed to who was on the ballot? Petitions on a signature would not be able to reverse that election.

The 2008 presidential election has already gained steam with Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama touring the country more than a year and a half before the election will take place.

Begin researching candidates in the party you support. It’s never too early to begin thinking about politics. The next person elected could change the face of America and ultimately reverse the war in Iraq, among other key issues. Decide which candidates inside that party best suit your needs and then make the effort to register and vote in November 2008.

Apathy doesn’t suit anyone, nor does it solve anything. Take a stand and speak up for what you believe in – whether it’s for the smoking ban in Abilene or if it’s against the war in Iraq. Every vote counts.