Your Vote Is Important
The fall election is rapidly approaching and the social media accounts, news feeds, and mailboxes are like flooded with reminders to vote in the upcoming election. There is a good deal riding on this election this year, with a presidential race, every House seat, and scores of Senate seats on the ballot. Also, our local state will be holding state and local elections for positions.
The current political landscape has understandably left some of us, especially young people and people of color, feeling tired, disenchanted, and frustrated. Recent research reveals that many people feel like there is not much voting can do to change government. However, in spite of this frustration, or perhaps even because of it, these are really many reasons why it is critical that you vote in each election, every voting season.
When you vote, you are not just simply electing government officials. You and other voters are expressing your needs, preferences, satisfaction or dissatisfaction as an electorate. Voting is the primary language of a democracy. It is one of the main tools people have to communicate how they wish to be governed. Who voters decide to place in office reflects the issues they care about, their commitment to developing solutions for pressing societal problems, and how they would like their tax dollars spent.
In fact, time and again, historically marginalized communities have come together to change the course of democracy, including in very recent history. It is an unjust truth of American democracy that the social contract does not equally protect everyone. But through voting, people can make their collective voice strong enough to force democracy to listen.
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