The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last Monday supporting photo identification at the polls has stirred in me a sense of frustration. At first, this irritation seemed to be the lingering aftertaste of the legal loss for those without easy access to photo IDs.

Upon further reflection, however, I realized that, the photo ID issue was not the true, primary source of my unhappiness. I am passionate about helping disenfranchised voters —- those who are entitled to vote, want to vote, or attempt to vote, but are deprived from voting or having their votes counted. I have to admit, however, that I am as much or more concerned about "enfranchised" voters, who simply don't vote.

I have heard a litany of excuses from photo ID carrying, non-voting, registered voters. The reasons are varied, and hardly any of them good.Let's take the first one: "I don't know enough about issues or the candidates to vote." Information is more readily available than ever before. Most folks with photo IDs have easy access to television, radio, and computers. Portals for candidate and issue information abound, simply a click away.

My other response to the "I don't know enough" complaint is this: Since when does voting equal test taking? Voting is not a pass/fail system for the voter, but for the candidate. A Ph.D is not necessary to make a difference or to have an opinion. If you know something about even one person or issue on a ballot, use your voice.

Another excuse: "My vote doesn't count." This sentiment originates from a number of areas, the Electoral College being one. Let's face it, the presidential elections are the "Rock Stars" of the election universe, the races that excite most people —- and yet, they are complicated mechanisms, not necessarily married to the outcome of the popular vote. But when it gets right down to it, the majority of the officials and laws that affect your daily life are completely determined by popular vote.

Ask parents and students of Clayton County what they have learned about the power of local elections. According to the Atlanta Regional Commission 2005 report, only about 59 percent of the Clayton County voting age population is registered to vote. Only about half of those actually voted in 2002, increasing to 80 percent in 2004 (a presidential election year). So, in an "off" year (where it is basically all about local government), only 30 percent of the voting age population voted. Does the dysfunction of a school board and the impending loss of school system accreditation reflect why voter apathy is a dangerous thing? I suspect it does. Bottom line: Local elections matter. Which brings me to the other quasi-justification registered nonvoters employ: "Politicians are inaccessible and vote based on their own whims or those of lobbyists and big business."

I must say that the majority of the elected officials I have met try to be good public servants. A conversation or phone call from one constituent can render even the most skilled lobbyist ineffective. Above all, it is crucial to remember that these folks work for us. We hire and fire them with our votes. We have the authority to rate their performances, good and bad, and give them feedback. This sort of say in one's own government is an amazing, hard-won right. If you were lucky enough to be born into citizenship, or to acquire it, take ownership of your government.

Lincoln had it right —- our government is "of the people, by the people, and for the people" that is, unless we don't vote.

> Polly McKinney is executive director of the League of Women Voters of Georgia.