On Tuesday, Florida Republicans will have the opportunity to participate in nominating the GOP presidential candidate for 2012. Many voters who will vote in November will nonetheless sit on the sidelines and allow others to decide who they will be able to choose between at that time, by not participating in primary voting. Doing so only serves to reduce their voice in the democratic process.

For better or for worse, we have a two-party system. Voting laws in various states make it extremely difficult, and some would say impossible, to run an effective third-party or independent candidate. We believe that this reduces choice, which inherently restricts the democratic process and support efforts to increase participation from outside the party channels so the broadest scope of ideas can be included and the best solutions to our challenges found. Nonetheless, the greatest way citizens can maximize their influence in the system we presently have is to participate at all levels – including primaries.

Because many citizens place a great emphasis on ideological values, they are unlikely to vote outside of their party, meaning that failure to participate in their party's nomination process, removes their voice from the process all the more. Currently, there are four candidates vying for the GOP nomination and their platforms cover a wide span of conservative beliefs, in some cases, expressing a very different emphasis on various issues.

Voters that do not participate in which candidate is selected, have little room to complain should they find themselves suffering from a lack of enthusiasm for either candidate come November. We are living through a period of American history filled with historic challenges that will require competent leadership at all levels, perhaps most of all from our President. To not participate in the selection process as completely as possible is to surrender your voice to others. It is our hope that every voter eligible to participate in this and every primary election, sees it as a personal responsibility to do so.

Click here to find your precinct's polling place. Check out the links below to learn more about each candidate on either their official site or wikipedia page.

Mitt Romney

(official) (wiki)

Newt Gingrich

(official) (wiki)

Rick Santorum

(official) (wiki)

Ron Paul

(official) (wiki)

In case you missed it:

Do Members of Congress Really Get a Full Pay Pension After Just One Term?