OCTOBER 8 isn’t as far away as it may seem. In fact, it’s creepily close. And that’s the deadline to get yourself registered to vote in this November’s general election. Yes, that’s the one where we vote for president (re-elect Obama, natch…) and vote to APPROVE Referendum 74 – the passive-aggressively worded referendum that would roll back Governor Gregoire’s order to make marriage equality happen in the State of Washington. When (optimism here!) Referendum 74 is approved, it will be tantamount to voting marriage equality into law by popular vote. If Referendum 74 fails, then it will be yet another example of the government failing to do its duty to provide equal rights for all its citizens – and if that happens, I’ll see you on the streets with pitchforks and torches (metaphorically, of course.)

But, before you can have your voice heard, you have to be registered to vote. It’s ridiculous how simple it is. It’s harder to get a quad-shot Americano, than it is to vote… at least its faster. Do it now. Not sure if you’re registered? That same website can tell you.

Step 1) Click on this link. 

Step 2) Do what it says.

Step 3) Vote when your ballot arrives in the mail.

For most Americans, voting is the loudest voice we have. It’s how we let our governance know what we’re thinking and feeling about our leadership, and about the rules that we collectively agree to live by. The candidates on your ballot are basically asking you to hire them – they work for you. Let me say that again for emphasis – THEY WORK FOR YOU. Don’t let them tell you otherwise. Don’t let ANYONE tell you that your vote doesn’t count – it’s a desperate tactic used by those who seek to control you when they know that they can’t win an election, so they resort to the next best thing in their minds – to detract from the votes that their opposition would otherwise get.

In a few weeks we’ll be publishing our not entirely comprehensive, highly opinionated, and snark laden Voting Guide. We aren’t saying you have to vote they way we tell you, but we are saying that you should vote – no matter what.

Unless you’re voting for Mitt Romney. And if you’re gay and voting for Romney, then you have other issues to work out…