The slogans are so ubiquitous, you could probably recite them all from memory: “Rock the Vote!,” “Choose or Lose!” and, everyone’s favorite from 2004, “Vote or Die!” Most of them are corny; all of them are incredibly annoying after ad nauseum repetitions for the several months leading up to a presidential election.

But they all fundamentally make a point worth making. Because the reality is, voting, especially in this election, is one of the most important things students could do during their college career.

Getting registered to vote is hardly an inconvenience (and, to dispel any misconceptions, federal law mandates that jury duty lists are culled from driver’s license registrations, not voting rolls). Like most everything else today, the Internet has made registering so much quicker and easier than before. The proper forms can be easily found and printed out from any number of sites, such as: projectvote.org, rockthevote.com, declareyourself.com and yourvoteyourvoice.org. Once printed out, all one is required to do is mail them in to the office of their home state’s Secretary of State (or, if you are registering in Georgia, the local voter registration office; go to the ticket desk at the DUC).

Emory students who maintain residence in states other than Georgia should check online to see what their state’s specific election laws require of them for absentee voting. Many states have deadlines for registration, which are often approximately 30 days before the election date, so it’s important to get on this now as opposed to waiting until the eleventh hour, which may not exist depending on the state.

This election, more than most others, carries with it enormous stakes; Emory students, to name one of many groups, will undoubtedly feel the election’s effects. There is a clear contrast between the platforms and positions of the two candidates, and it behooves every voter to be as informed as possible so as to make an informed decision. The next four years will most likely set the course for the next generation of American history, particularly with regard to the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court, the federal tax code and foreign policy. In our opinion, it would be a great shame if a significant portion of Emory students failed to live up to their alma mater’s goal of being an ethically engaged university that fosters discussion, debate and community action.

For this reason, we congratulate those segments of the Emory population that are encouraging students to both get registered and to get involved. Since the semester began, groups such as the College Democrats, College Republicans and the Emory Students for Barack Obama — as well as the University administration — have been active in this area, and it is our hope that they will keep up their good work until election time.

The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s editorial board.