All votes count, including students'

Editor's note: Fleischer is a Herald student columnist from Kennedy High School, which has students from Bellmore and Merrick.

As evidenced by the recent razor-thin margin of victory achieved by Nassau County Executive-elect Edward P. Mangano recently, every vote counts. Many high school seniors, like me, are approaching their 18th birthdays. It's a significant milestone in many ways, but most important, we are granted the privilege to vote.

Voting is an honorable activity that many people choose not to take part in. With so many issues to be decided locally, nationally and worldwide, it is more important than ever that we express our constitutional right to representation by voting in all elections and having our voices heard.

This past Election Day in November generated one of the closest contests in Nassau County history. On election eve, it appeared that incumbent Tom Suozzi would be re-elected as Nassau's executive. By the next morning, the election was too close to call. After weeks of recounting votes and tallying absentee ballots, Mangano was declared the winner by the slimmest of margins.

For all who thought that their votes were insignificant, they need to reconsider. The recent senatorial election in Minnesota was even closer. It took months before a winner, Al Franken, a Democrat, was certified to start his term. Just a few votes out of more than 2.9 million cast decided the result in this significant election. To think that the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats was determined by a few votes in Minnesota is remarkable.

I look forward to joining the ranks of registered voters and having my voice heard. The opportunity to vote is easily overlooked during a year focused on SAT exams, college admissions and the prom, but with the power of the vote comes the responsibility to use that privilege wisely.