One of the main factors that lead to the United States’ secession from England was the lack of representation. America was founded as a democracy with voting and citizen’s input on leadership as cornerstones of our nation.
Since the very first election in 1776, voting has changed drastically. Beginning with only allowing the vote of white land-owning males, to instilling literacy tests, then allowing all white males, then African American men and finally women. The face of the voter has changed a lot in the past 300 years, but the core pillar of democracy and the voice of the people has remained fundamental to all Americans.
Every election is important for that very reason. Whether voting for local officials or the president, every single vote and every single citizen matters. The American people are the ones who get to decide who gets to be represented and how they want their country to run. It is up to us.
As the presidential election approaches, more and more voters are registering for the first time, eagerly awaiting their turn to cast their ballot and to have a say in the leadership and future of the United States of America. So many first-time voters have been anticipating the day when their voice is heard and when they can make a change in society.
UF freshman, Sydney Stelly, is ecstatic for the upcoming election. “Voting for the first time means I finally get to have a direct influence on American politics. I feel as if voting is so under- appreciated since many countries don’t give their citizens any say in their government. To be honest, there are two things I’m most excited about: 1) The results coming out on election night and 2) Getting my first ‘I voted!’ sticker!”
Similarly, Carolina Moreno (24’) shared, “Voting for the first time means that I can finally exercise my rights and duties as a newfound adult. I am most excited about the process of filling out my ballot.”
UF students expressed the potency and relevancy of voting. Stelly remarked, “I think it’s important to vote because what we vote on has such an impact on not only our lives but the lives of the people we love and the people who will come after us. By not voting, we give up our ability to improve these lives.”
Echoing Stelly’s sentiments, Abigail Ovadia added, “Voting for that will ultimately affect and influence me in my everyday life through the policies that a candidate puts into place. I also feel that it’s important to use my right to vote as it’s an important privilege given to me in this democracy that I know other people in other countries might not be fortunate enough to have.”
So far, first-time voters have made sure to register to vote in preparation for the election. They have either requested a mail-in ballot or located their local poll and reviewed regulations. Other first-time voters have reported keeping up with the news and researching platforms and positions of presidential and legislative candidates.
Now that the deadline has passed to register to vote, both first-time and regular voters should continue to prepare for the election. It is so important to stay informed on political policies and issues, especially seeking out different perspectives on contemporary hot political topics and making sure to navigate media bias.
First-time voters should consider studying a sample ballot to know what to become familiarized with all the different issues they will be voting on.
First-time voters are counting down to election day — the day they finally have the privilege to be heard and effect real change on both a regional and national level.