I rang the doorbell of a two-story brick house in southwest Houston. "Hello sir, I represent the Republican, Dr. John Sanchez, running for Congress this November. Would you like information regarding his program?" Sanchez's new supporter enthusiastically volunteered to contribute to our campaign. Bouncing on his lawn, I felt like I had contributed in my own small way to our democratic system. Every week during the summer of my freshman year, I worked with Sanchez's dedicated team of volunteers. We went through endless lists of mailings, phone calls and doorbells. Being involved made me realize how much effort a campaign requires. My incredible experience sparked my own political views and ideas for the future - welfare, taxes and healthcare. Perhaps if legislation required campaign experience, young men and women would gain knowledge and interest in our political system. Political participation is essential because these young men and women will lead our political system in the future. However, lowering the voting age is not the solution. Voting is a huge responsibility, requiring information about candidates/issues. Therefore, most eighteen year olds are capable of making wise and mature choices. The dilemma is creating the desire and convenience to vote. I suggest widespread online voting. The world is entering the 21st century with astonishing technological advancements. Schools, libraries and workplaces all have access to the Internet. Thus, the availability of voting would skyrocket. Plus, voting might seem like less of a chore. Could voting be fun and rewarding? Internet graphics, images and sounds could appeal to young American voters. Advertising campaigns and candidate information websites could increase awareness of the problem. Let’s encourage young people to vote! Typically the only government exposure for young men and women is a manual high school course. While education about our democracy is crucial, hands-on experience is necessary to engage young voters. Additionally, the number of voters would surely increase if Election Day were a public holiday. My mother called from work last November. "Honey, I'll be home as soon as I go to the polls. Dinner will be late tonight. The hospital was crazy today!" The door slammed when she finally got home; the polls were closed by the time she could leave work. My best friend, Amy, who works at Hallmark after school, also complained to me about the voting hours. So if Election Day was a national holiday, we could tear up our list of excuses.