The term, "voting your conscience" is often bandied about by individuals who want to garner support for a particular political candidate, suggesting that, in the face of confusing choices one should follow their heart.

To some this can mean not voting at all, and I used to think this was a good idea, especially considering that my votes in the last two elections didn't seem to do any good. Your conscience, as defined by Webster is "the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good."

So when you vote with it, you do so with an intention of moral goodness.

I like this concept, and I think most of us do. And now that I've tipped you off that I'm not a Republican, I will admit nothing else until you've had a chance to finish this column.

I do have my convictions and beliefs and I love my country, and though I don't go to rallies and you probably won't find me at a caucus, I think it's important to cast my vote because I believe abstention from voting is unpatriotic.

Also, the forming of groups and the ramping up of excitement for a candidate doesn't change what that candidate's positions are, and so that stuff amounts mostly to hot air.

There is no question, however, that actions will always speak louder than words.

In the past few weeks, I've been conducting an informal straw poll, asking people I know and people around the area how they feel about the upcoming presidential election.

The responses have been a wake-up call for me, to the extent that I didn't realize how polarizing a national election can be, and I now see that I need to work harder at learning as much as I can about the person I want to lead my country.

So now, here are some examples of your answers to the questions, "If the U.S. presidential elections were held tomorrow, which candidate do you favor?" and "What issues concern you the most?"

Barbara Maddock - Dept. Store Buyer - "I like John Edwards but I have a feeling that Hillary would win if she teams up with Barack Obama....I'm a mother and I'm concerned about health care and how we're going to pay for it."

Frank Dillard - Carpenter - "I'm from New Mexico originally, and I used to support Bill Richardson, but I found out that he demanded the legislature pass a reform law that would require anybody who asks for a recount of a suspicious vote to put up a bond of one million dollars. That means that free and fair elections are now, basically outlawed in New Mexico...I'm leaning towards McCain."

Issue that concerns you? "Immigration."

Tammy Mason - Veterinary Assistant - "My husband likes Mitt Romney, but I think Obama has character and smarts." Issue? "The war is just wrong...it needs to stop."

Daniel Jantzen - Student - "I feel strongly about this...my friends and I, we think Ron Paul is the best choice. It's about the constitution, and standing up for what you believe in and Dr. Paul's voting record, it's consistent." Issue that concerns you the most? "My best friends brother is in Iraq and he said that most of his platoon thinks they shouldn't be there."

There you have it. Straight from the horse's mouth.

And this horse race has just begun, so we can look forward to many weeks of pundits fawning and faux pas yawning, sound bites and push polls and with 285 million (potential) voters things should get interesting.

So, getting back to your conscience, and voting with it, this means in other words, that your conscience is the part of you that wonders whether what you're doing is truly making the world a better place.

For myself, a guy with libertarian leanings, but with no love for rigid party lines, I too throw in with Congressman Ron Paul. So now that you have read what your fellow constituency thinks, it's up to you to do the research, and vote your conscience.