“I don’t like either candidate.”
“My vote doesn’t matter.”
“My morals won’t let me choose between the lesser of two
evils.”
“I can’t vote for someone I don’t believe in.”
I have heard all the excuses from every age group, from every race, and from every state. People aren’t voting. And this is a problem. The truth is, less than half of the US population is exercising their right to vote. Let’s take a minute to think about how many people make up fifty percent of the US population. 150 million people aren’t taking out a small portion of their day to vote. I’m going to repeat that number: one hundred and fifty million people. Granted, some of them can’t vote for various reasons, but that is still a huge number.
“Why should I vote?” they say, and then they repeat one of the excuses I listed above or another from the laundry list of mediocre excuses.
- It’s your right. Despite what you may think about the process, the simplest reason that you should take advantage of your right to vote is because you can. There are so many people in this world today who don’t have that right. It’s the right that our founding fathers fought for hundreds of years ago, it’s the right that African Americans fought for, and it’s the right that women fought for. It means something, so go out there and exercise the right that so many others were denied for so long.
- Higher voter turnout means we are closer to a true democracy. True democracy. I’m sure you might have heard it mentioned in government class. It’s the “popular vote” or the decision made by the collective votes of each person in the community. It’s not feasible to have a true democracy in country the size of the US, but if we have higher turnout rates, we can get closer to it.
- If you don’t vote, your voice will never be heard. When large groups of people aren’t turning out to elections, the elections favor the people that do vote. I know, it sounds obvious, but the statistics behind this are surprising. An example of a group of people that have a lower turnout rate? Youth voters. You know whose not being represented in elections? Youth voters. If a politician is *theoretically* try to win votes, why would he or she bother try to appeal to those he or she knows won’t turn out on Election Day? If everyone in the country is going to be represented, everyone needs to vote.
- Your vote actually can make a difference. Remember the Florida Election Recount of 2000. 537 votes was the difference. 537 votes would have changed the election. In a state of millions, only 500 votes, less than a percent of the population, would have made a difference. Yours can too.
- If you are unhappy with the way things are, you should do something about it. People complain about the state of the nation every day. Whatever issues you have with the way things are going, shouldn’t you at least try to change it? This is the only voice you have; utilize it. No one likes a hypocrite.
“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.”—George Jean Nathan
Great points! We talk about voting in my government class a lot, and it is true that you should exercise your right – it does make a difference 🙂
X,
Cristina / cristinawashere.com
This is so so important. Thank you for sharing this! It can very much be overlooked. Every vote counts!
IT’s so important for everyone with the right to vote to get out and do it!
Rachel | The Confused Millennial
Couldn’t agree more, So important to vote!!!
It is important for us to vote in elections! Its part of what we should do as citizens!
I unfortunately am missing being able to vote for this election by like 6 months but it’s so important to vote. The 2000 election really shows how important it is for everyone to vote in order to influence the electoral college!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
SO important for people to vote… especially this year of all years. I’m doing absentee which is a pain but still necessary!
Preach girl! I’m trying to get everyone I know to get out and vote next week!
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
I am so, so excited to vote. My boyfriend and I have decided to vote on the day to experience the day-of madness!
I’m looking forward to voting this year. Every vote counts!!
I’m not American, but I definitely agree. I’ve been voting in every election I possibly can since the day I turned 18. As a woman especially, I feel it’s even more important!
Ahhh I’m afraid I have slightly differing views on these topics, but to be honest I’ve had so much of politics for the last few months that I don’t even feel like voicing my opinion. LOL