This year's national election will make history no matter who is elected president on November 4. Every election makes history, and the people who vote in the election can have a hand in making that history.

Even people who don't vote have a hand in making history. Every vote not made lets the voters who showed up make the decision for you. Every vote not made is an opportunity lost.

Being able to vote but not taking advantage of the opportunity takes one of your basic American rights and throws it away. Voting is a right and a responsibility - but you would be sad - astounded - even angry - at the number of Americans who don't take advantage of one of their most precious rights - the right to choose who governs them.

The many, many people who have lived under absolute monarchies, tyrannical dictators, and oppressive oligarchies would weep for the chance to have a say in their governments. Many men and women throughout the history of the world have died to obtain and keep that right.

In the past 46 years, our nation's highest turnout in a national election was 63% - and that was in 1960 - almost 50 years ago! What that means is that for every five eligible voters, two never bothered to show up. And that was the country's best turnout.

Our country's worst voter turnout was 37%, awfully close to one-third. That means that out of every three eligible voters, two stayed home and let the third guy do the choosing.

Your mission - if you choose to accept it - is to encourage your friends and family members to register before October 10 and to make sure they get to the polls on or before Tuesday, November 4. This is how even people who cannot themselves vote can make a real difference in the 2008 elections.

I Promised A Teen I'd Vote is one way you can help remind the voters you know and love to remember to get to the polls and make their vote count.