1. Rock Your Vote! Presented By Ellen Krajcir Penn State University Student

4. Issues Poverty Education War Abortion Birth Control Equal Pay Jobs Financial Aid Economy "Key Issues for Black Voters in 2012 - New America Media." "Where Women Matter Most In Election 2012." "Census Bureau: More Americans Have Bachelor's Degrees Than Ever."

5. "Gen Y Hub Political Issues Students Should Care About."

6. 2008 Presidential Election African Americans: - 45% did not vote (Census Bureau: Here’s Who Voted in 2008) Women: - 44% did not vote Young People (age 18-24): - < 50% did not vote - 42% not even registered 46% of all people did not practice their right to vote

7. Why? According to the 1996 United States Census: ( “Too Busy" to Vote) 7.6 % No time off/too busy 11.2 % Didn't like candidates 17.7 % Ill, disabled, or emergency 16 % Not interested 34% Other

8. It is vital that you practice your right to vote because it is the only way to speak your mind and be heard, represent those who cannot vote, and your vote really does count.

9. Speak Your Mind and Be Heard How will the outcome of the election affect you? ABORTION & BIRTH CONTROL ("Lifestyle Galleries." ) OBAMA: Supports abortion rights. Health care law requires contraceptives to be available for free for women enrolled in workplace health plans. ROMNEY: Opposes abortion rights. Said he would end federal aid to Planned Parenthood.

10. GAY RIGHTS ("Lifestyle Galleries." ) OBAMA: Supports legal recognition of same-sex marriage, a matter decided by states. ROMNEY: Opposes legal recognition of same-sex marriage and says it should be banned with a constitutional amendment, not left to states.

11. EDUCATION ("Lifestyle Galleries." ) OBAMA: Has approved waivers freeing states from the most onerous requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law. "Race to the Top" competition has rewarded winning states with billions of dollars for pursuing education policies Obama supports. ROMNEY: Supported the federal accountability standards of No Child Left Behind law. Has said the student testing, charter- school incentives and teacher evaluation standards of Obama's "Race to the Top" competition "make sense" although the federal government should have less control of education.

12. Represent - Vote for those who could not vote and fought for you to be able to vote. Suffrage: the right to vote, especially in a political election, which was not awarded to all Americans until 1971 (State Suffrage Laws:Law Library of Congress." ) - Vote because you can, other countries still do not have equal voting rights. - Vote for those who cannot vote. (children, disabled, unborn, deceased) - Vote for those who believe what you believe.

13. Your Vote Counts - Some elections have been decided by one vote: - Ed Watson, a state representative in Texas lost his reelection bid by one vote. ("OBN - Ten Reasons to Vote on November 4 (in National and State Elections)." ) - In 2000, one more vote per precinct in Florida would have elected Al Gore. - The less popular candidate can get elected if his supporters are better motivated. - A candidate who is behind in the polls 40% to his opponent's 60% will win if 80% of his supporters vote and only 50% of his opponent's supporters vote. (80% of 40% = 32% for him, 50% of 60% = 30% for his opponent, 38% don't vote)

14. Pro's: - You are exercising a right and privilege to select your leaders and make and change laws. - When you cast your vote, you are letting our government know what you think about things. Pro's and Con's Con's: - You have to register - You may be inconvenienced. - You will need to do some research. ("Why Should I Vote? The Pros and Cons of Voting.")

15. Register to vote online today at: www.rockthevote.com

16. Questions? Ellen Krajcir, esk5086@psu.edu

17. References Casserly, Meghan. "Where Women Matter Most In Election 2012." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 07 June 2012. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "Census Bureau: Hereâ s Who Voted in 2008." WSJ.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "Census Bureau: More Americans Have Bachelor's Degrees Than Ever." Online Colleges. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "Gen Y Hub Political Issues Students Should Care About." Gen Y Hub Political Issues Students Should Care About. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.. "Key Issues for Black Voters in 2012 - New America Media." Key Issues for Black Voters in 2012 - New America Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "Lifestyle Galleries." Obama vs. Romney: Where They Stand on 12 Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "OBN - Ten Reasons to Vote on November 4 (in National and State Elections)." OBN - Ten Reasons to Vote on November 4 (in National and State Elections). N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "State Suffrage Laws:Law Library of Congress." State Suffrage Laws:Law Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. U.S.. Department of Commerce. “Too Busy" to Vote. 1998. Web.. "USA TODAY." USATODAY.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.. "Why Should I Vote? The Pros and Cons of Voting." WryteStuff Writers' Community. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012..