Assuming you haven’t been living under a rock the past year and a half, you know that on Tuesday, November 8th, we will choose our next president. We will also choose new senators, congressmen, state representatives and school board members. We will have the chance to vote on amendments and new bills that include things from removing the cap on charter schools to legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. All in all, it is vital that you vote. If all the other videos, articles, and celebrities haven’t overwhelmed you already, here are even more reasons your voice matters in this election.
1) Women have literally fought and died for your right to vote.
The 19th amendment was passed less than 100 years ago. There are women alive now who were born before we were able to vote. Imagine looking at one of those women and telling her, “Nah, I’m not voting this year. I know this is something you only dreamed of when you were a child, but I just don’t feel like it.” She would probably cry, and it’s super sad when old people cry. Avoid making old people cry by voting on Tuesday.
2) There are millions of Americans who live here and can’t vote.
Maybe they’re international students, maybe they weren’t born in the US so they aren’t naturalized citizens, or maybe they’re under eighteen. There are people who would give anything to be able to vote in this election, and by not voting you’re completely disregarding those who want to vote but can’t.
3) You have the chance for your voice to be heard.
Maybe you’re cynical and think that voting doesn’t make a difference, maybe you think the election is rigged anyways (it isn’t, but that’s for another article). In a big election like this one, it can seem like your voice isn’t important – but these elections aren’t just about the President. Your vote absolutely matters in local elections, and you can make real change at a local level by voting.
4) You have the chance to make history.
Love her or hate her, it is a pretty big deal that Hillary Clinton could be our next president, and by voting you get the chance to make that happen. Remember the women who fought for your right to vote? Imagine their excitement knowing their fight led to a woman as the president.
5) You get to complain for the next four years.
By willingly not voting, you give up the ability to complain about the President for the next four years. No, this isn’t a law, but it’s just common courtesy. Don’t complain about things you aren’t willing to try to fix. If nothing else, view voting as your ticket to complaining about the state of things until the next election.
Hopefully, something on this list stuck out to you enough to inspire you to go to the polls on Tuesday and vote all the way down the ballot.