Last week, Secretary of State Bob Taft, who is running on the Republican ticket for Ohio’s governor, released the official state forecast that there will be about 50 percent voter turnout for the general election Nov.3. If that prediction holds true, then this will be the lowest voter turnout in years for a statewide general election.Taft estimates that more than 3.5 million of nearly 7.2 million eligible voters will participate in the Nov. 3 election. Although the number of registered voters is at an all-time record high, still about only 50 percent of the voters are expected to cast their ballots, and statewide election turnout has not been below 54.4 percent since 1986. But that seems likely to change Tuesday.Although political “apathy” of Ohio State students has been somewhat addressed by Undergraduate Student Government’s early October registration drive, and their push in trying to help these new voters make educated decisions when choosing candidates and/or issues to support, there’s still much disillusionment with the American political process, its many negative campaign messages, and the loss of credibility regarding the character and integrity of many politicians. Many citizens think of politics as a dirty business that can be handled and indulged in by scoundrels only. On Tuesday, voters will elect new members of the House of Representatives and a new senator, a new governor and a number of other statewide officers. All of these races are important because these are statewide and federal positions that will be filled by people who will be representing us into the early part of the new millennium. Therefore, we should be aware of and informed of our representatives’ character, honesty and integrity on the issues, as well as their political, religious and social perspectives and philosophy. Tuesday’s election could prove an important turning point for funding education in the state. The next group of state lawmakers may shape whether higher education support will be cut in order to fund an increase in funds for Ohio’s primary and secondary schools. The possibility of such a dire script being orchestrated by the legislature should send shock waves through OSU and all other college communities, and somewhat shake up and cause a tidlewave within the stagnant political scene on this and all campuses statewide.Nevertheless, the plague of apathy seems to be prevalent and spreading throughout our society – both on college campuses and in the general population. We think that much of this has to do with Congress’ preoccupation with Clinton’s sexual appetite and the possibility of impeachment. And naturally, this pre-occupation with Clinton’s White House scandal has caused independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr to run up a staggering $40 million-plus taxpayer financed bill to support his role of looking into curruption and wrong-doing by Clinton and friends that goes back some 20-odd years. And what about the negative ads of Fisher and Taft, and Boyle and Voinovich? We think most politicians are quilty of such these days.The American people are fed-up with the appearance of solacious machinations taking place with the U.S. Congress; particularly, as it relates to trying to remove the president from office over a sexual encounter. The majority of Americans aren’t buying this garbage coming from Congress.This among other things is why many Americans are turned off to the political and voting process in this country. This sexual scandal has taken priority in national politics at the expense of many other issues that are of importance to Americans. Besides many politicians are seen as liars and often mean-spirited with their many negative campaign advertisements. Regarless, we urge all eligible voters to vote on Tuesday because there are some important underlying political issues worth considering come election day.Therefore, show the world that each and everyone of you are duty-bound, patriotic and responsible citizens. You don’t take your voting rights for granted – you will vote Tuesday.Remember the old adage, “If you don’t vote, don’t complain.”