Has it been four years already? Or maybe for you, it feels like the longest four years ever since the last presidential election. Regardless how you may feel about the past four years, there is little debate that this election is of the utmost importance. And there is definitely no question that, more than any other election, we are completely saturated with information, which when deciding on the next president of the United States is not necessarily a bad thing.

Sure, in the last election, Americans were all over the Internet, that is no question, but four years has resulted in numerous online booms, including a blog boom and a social networking boom, not to mention the use of search engines by Americans to find any information on any candidate. Also, almost all newspaper and television news channels have created online versions that not only include what was in the printed/aired version, but also include constant updates, thorough archives and helpful links. It is really an era of “no stone left unturned.”

Not that long ago, the only place potential voters could get information on their candidates was from, dare I say, biased TV commercials and/or reports in the newspapers from campaign speeches and such. My, how the tides have turned. With the creation of blogs and forums, the American people really have their chance and their turn, for that matter, to say what they want and discuss what they want with others. Forums allow people to discuss and debate candidates with people from all over the country, or the world for that matter.

Also, candidates can and do reach so many more potential voters when they utilize the possibilities of the Internet. Of course, they do have their standard web sites, but they now have social networking pages to reach a whole different generation. Social networking sites also allow candidates to send out bulletins and information on a regular basis and to receive constant feedback and questions from younger people.

The flow of information and communication possibilities has never been as explosive as it is now. The 21^st century has brought about new ways to learn about who we put in office. Granted, a lot of the information is opinion or skewed depending on who is putting it out there, but the point is that the more information we have, the better decisions we can make. The more you are aware about what is surrounding our candidates, the more you can select who can represent you the best. Good luck this November!

- Maya S.