The slogan for this week's profiled Web site is "Everybody's Doin' It in '04!"
In reality, there are a lot of us who won't be doing it for reasons that range from apathy to anger.
What won't we be doing? Voting.
And that's why political strategists are going after our nation's young.
These 18 to 25 year-old "Virgin Voters" are those who either have never voted, or who may have only voted once or twice in their life.
They are defined as: "One who is qualified to vote but has not exercised their right to do so."
There is even the Reinstated VoterVirgin who is "One who has voted in the past, yet abstained in recent national elections, and wants to claim their VoterVirginity".
In an effort to get their attention and votes, many grassroots organizations are springing up in light of the upcoming presidential election.
Www.votervirgin.com bills itself as a marketing tool for these public and non-profit organizations seeking to get young voters registered.
The VoterVirgin concept was created by Teresa Van Deusen, a single mother from Austin, Texas.
"It will be interesting to see where this goes, Van Deusen said. "There are so many good reasons to participate in democracy right now. We just hope to take the chore out of registering."
The site provides humor, catchy phrases, and links to make registering to vote a snap.
And its loose references to sex education are by no means an accident.
It offers a line of goodies including stickers, pens, and tattoos emblazoned with the VoterVirgin logo.
"Everybody could use a smile," Van Deusen explained. "We hope that by showering voters with affection, they will feel inspired to actively participate in our democracy."
For those who choose to register at the site, or as it's creator refers to as "The class of '04", there are prizes, opinion polls, forums, and a gallery to post member photos.
The class pledge reads as follows:
"Starting today, I choose the best for myself and my community by committing to vote in the 2004 national election. By keeping my heart and actions pure, from this moment forward, I will be able to give my country the most important gift of all, my vote. I hereby pledge that I will cast my ballot responsibly. I will practice safe voting by learning about the candidates and the issues. I will carefully choose the candidates to whom I offer my vote, as it is precious. When I know I am doing the right thing, then I will vote again and again and again!"
The concept is nothing new. Most notable is Rock the Vote, promoted heavily on MTV in recent years.
Rock the Vote's premise was to make young voters aware of what the Recording Industry of America's stand on freedom of expression and censorship in music.
It has blossomed and broadened its goal into registering young voters as well as keeping them up on the issues concerning young people today.
Issues include the high cost of college tuition, unemployment, and, as was proved in the last presidential election, the knowledge that every vote does truly count.
VoterVirgin isn't concerned with party affiliation or specific causes. Its message is a simple one: To vote is to be empowered and to be empowered is to have a voice.
I've always felt that if I don't vote, I have no right to complain. And because I have plenty to bitch about during this election year, I will, as I have done year after year, exercise my right to vote.
I'm registered. Are you?
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