Last Tuesday was Election Day. Every election is important, and I’m always disappointed when I hear the actual number of people who turn out to vote. Depending on the year, the average is about 50 percent of the nation’s population. Very few people in the world have the opportunity to actually influence their government, and I hope more people exercise their right to vote in the future. This year, however, I was en route to Tokyo. Knowing this ahead of time, I applied for my absentee ballot. As the ultimate procrastinator, I was rather proud of myself. But old habits die hard, because as I packed for my morning flight last week, I still hadn’t mailed my ballot. I met my dad at the airport for a quick few minutes of quality time, as our schedules are just that hectic, and I filled out my absentee ballot in the middle of JFK’s Terminal 7. He took it home for me and mailed it. Thanks to a little foresight and some teamwork, I made sure to vote. The election’s outcome certainly changed the dynamic of the government, and time will tell what this means for the country. At the moment, I am in Seoul, as is the G20 Summit. President Obama arrives here Wednesday. Perhaps, I can steal a moment of his time. Stay tuned! — Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher