Four years have past and it’s time again to listen, educate yourself, and vote in an upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 4. This year should be exciting considering we have Barack Obama running to be the first African-American president and Sarah Palin running to be the first female vice president.

I feel blessed to have a country that has this competition and choice. In doing research for this column a couple of years ago, I was shocked to find that in many countries women still do not have the right to vote. So in exercising this right to vote I am encouraging every one of you to make sure you can walk into the polls and vote on Nov. 4.

In the U.S., women have had this right for only 88 years. What our female ancestors went through for us to walk into a voting booth and cast a ballot is one of the bravest stories I have ever read about. But if you want a true education on what happened before this right was granted to women, buy or rent the movie “Iron Jawed Angels.” This movie historically depicts the journey of women believing they should be equal to men in the eyes of the law to vote, organizing themselves to educate the world on this belief and final victory. It was not an easy road and this movie is quite graphic in some scenes watching what they went through to obtain this freedom for us.

The first step in voting is to register with the city or village you live in. In Lombard, it is really quite easy.

Our village clerk Barbara Johnson explains, “If you have been registered before you simply must fill out a form at the Lombard Village Hall located at 255 E. Wilson. Remember to bring along two pieces of identification. One has to have proof of your current address such as a piece of mail and the other is a picture ID such as a driver’s license or state ID proving your birth date.”

When she was explaining this, my memory of bringing my daughter Rosie to the village hall shortly after her 18th birthday came back to me. I just remember the pride I had in my daughter and this country for this privilege. Since this was Rosie’s first time to register, Johnson asked her to raise her right hand and answer the following oath: “You do solemnly swear that you will fully and truly answer all such questions as shall be put to you touching your place of residence, name, place of birth, your qualifications as an elector and your right as such to register and vote under the laws of this state.” Rosie said “I do.” We did not take this rite of passage lightly. My next moment of pride was when she cast her first vote.

Johnson also noted that to vote in this year’s election, you must register by Tuesday, Oct. 7. She did say there has been an influx of young people registering to vote before going out of town to college and also students coming in after school is out. I found that great to hear. To make it easy to register the Village Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Anyone with questions may contact the Village Clerk’s office at (630) 620-5909, the DuPage Election Commission at (630) 407-5600, or visit the Village Web site at www.villageoflombard.org.