Wouldn't it be great, though, if the general public viewed their right to vote with the same degree of enthusiasm as they do "Idol" or sports championships? Perhaps candidates could square off weekly in televised debates prior to elections to stimulate interest. Or they could take part in "Fear Factor"-like challenges such as explaining within two minutes how our taxes are used or participating in the annual Antelope Island bison round-up.

Seriously, have Americans become so enslaved to entertainment that it will take some gimmicky means to get them to the polls? Isn't the well-being of our children, our seniors, our environment, our pocketbooks, our communities and our economy enough motivation to get voters off the couch and into polling places?

Is there really any excuse that people aren't registered to vote when election officials make special trips to high schools and other public places and gatherings to encourage voter registration? After all, there are voter registration forms in the white pages of the phone book and it's also available to download from the Internet. There's also the tried-and-true method of registering in person at county clerks' offices.

It's astonishing, though, after all the efforts of Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert's office, county clerks and the educational system to encourage voting, how relatively few people take it to heart.

Swensen said she is particularly concerned about the low numbers of young people ages 18-25 who register to vote. Some are afraid of some sort of sanction if they register and not vote. Others have asked Swensen if registering to vote signed them up for the military.

"Some have asked me, 'How much does it cost?' "

It costs nothing, of course. But a strong argument can be made that it costs a person more when he or she forfeits, for whatever reason, the freedom to vote one's conscience.

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Marjorie Cortez is a Deseret Morning News editorial writer. E-mail her at marjorie@desnews.com.