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Next Tuesday, November 8th, is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November—that’s right, Election Day! As you may have noticed, it’s an odd-numbered year this year, so there are no national elections being contested this time around in Minnesota. This does not diminish the importance of voting as a civic duty, and The Mac Weekly staff urges its readers to exercise their right to make their voice heard at the ballot box. Local leaders, such as the city counselors and school board members who will be running this year, make many of the decisions that affect our daily lives as students here. For example, the city council is responsible for ordinances dealing with recycling and other environmental measures in Saint Paul that many Macalester students care about. If aren’t sure of your registration status, or haven’t registered yet, and would still like to vote in Minnesota, don’t be discouraged. The Secretary of State in Minnesota’s website, at www.sos.state.mn.us, is the best place to go for specific voting information for Minnesota. On the website, you can check if you are already registered to vote in Minnesota. If you voted in the last election and haven’t changed your address or name, your Minnesota voter registration is still valid, and all you need to do is show up at the polling place on Election Day. If you live on campus, the polling place is the Macalester/United Plymouth Church, right across the street from Carnegie Hall. If you live off campus, check for your local polling place at the Minnesota Secretary of State website. If you have yet to register, it’s easy to register on the day of the election. All you need to do is prove your identity and your address. There are many ways to do this, which can be found on the Secretary of State website. A few things to keep in mind: your student ID is a Minnesota ID, your student fees bill is proof of residence, and if you can’t find a utility bill or rent statement to confirm your off-campus address you can have a friend who is a registered voter in your precinct vouch for you in a signed oath. Finding out how and where to vote is easy enough, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t know whom to vote for. It’s easy and worthwhile to get informed. First, check out our feature on the city council on page three. More information on candidates for city council can be found on their websites, a quick Google away, and the Highland Villager is a great local news source for up-to-date information on candidates in the Macalester area. Pick up your copy in the Campus Center, and get informed. Voting is one of your most important rights as a citizen, and we here at The Mac Weekly feel that you should never pass up an opportunity to exercise it. Get informed, go to your polling place, and go vote on November 8th!