“I’m just one person; my vote doesn’t really matter.” How many times has this phrase or a similar one been uttered in response to being asked about voting? “I don’t like any of them anyway; one vote isn’t gonna make a difference.”
The number of eligible voters in the United States was around 200 million for the 2016 presidential election. Of these 200 million, only 138 million of them voted. How many of these people didn’t vote because they didn’t believe their vote mattered? How many of them were unable to vote because they weren’t registered in time?
Working as an interpreter during this election, I saw an incredible amount of first-time voters. Most of these were older adults, who, in theory, should have been registered a long time ago. But they weren’t, either because they never felt it necessary to exercise their civic duty or because of a language barrier. Many of these first-time voters didn’t speak English, which made registering to vote more difficult. There were also many first-time voters who didn’t know that they had to register to vote in advance. Many showed up at the polls only to be turned away with a voter registration form and were told to come to the next election. There are some states that have same-day voter registration. However, Pennsylvania is not one of them.
But, these people came out and wanted to vote. They wanted to exercise their right to vote but were unable to do so.
Voting is probably one of the most important things an individual can do. Voting allows your voice to be heard. You have the ability to choose the candidate that best aligns with your belief. If you don’t vote, other people will, and you may not like the choice they make.
Plus, many people fought to obtain their right to vote, particularly women and people of color. They were jailed, beaten, and sometimes killed simply because they wanted to have a say in how the country they lived in was running. For us to not vote, because we don’t want to, would be a disgrace to those who lost their lives fighting for this right. Even though there are people in this country trying to make it more difficult for POC to vote, it is still important to at least try.
The belief that a person’s vote doesn’t matter or isn’t worth their time is completely false. It’s what allows people’s voices to be heard and gives them a say in how the country they live in is run. So, take advantage of what people fought for and vote in the upcoming elections.
Check to see if you’re registered to vote here.