WITH ELECTION 2002 at hand, civics teachers in Maryland hail the democratic rite of free elections.

Then, on Tuesday, their students will learn a real life lesson: More than half the eligible voters in their state, including many of their parents, won't bother to meet their civic responsibilities.

Even a cliffhanger election seems unlikely to alter that prospect. Many excuses are offered -- none of them washes.

Polling done during the Florida recount after Election 2000 showed appreciable numbers of newly committed U.S. voters. Yes, they declared, they would turn out to avenge all those who saw their ballots thrown in the trash during a carnival of ineptitude.

But after U.S. Supreme Court justices decided the outcome, this patriotic motivation evaporated. A majority of Americans -- maybe even a majority in Florida -- voted for Al Gore, and what did voting get them? The other guy, the one who came in second, became president.

So Florida was added to the list of complaints offered by those who try to explain those who take democracy for granted.

People are exhausted by negative television campaigning. The fact that it works strikes them as even more dispiriting. The candidates win; the process loses.

Computers and consultants slice and dice the electorate so finely that overall themes never come through.

Those who can't bestir themselves to vote are voting nonetheless: They're happy with the status quo; they're disgusted by the tone and the choices; their vote doesn't matter. It's all bunk.

We came out of 9/11 determined to show the value of democracy. Firefighters ran into the crumbling towers. Airline passengers took back their plane.

Shouldn't we vote?