Women’s suffrage is something that has been so easily forgotten. Only one hundred years ago were women granted the right to vote by the United States government. That’s right, women were only granted the right to vote by the national government in 1920, and women of color and minorities faced disenfranchisement for decades after that. With that, all women have not had the right to vote for even one hundred years. In the lifetime of our parents and grandparents women were denied the right to vote.
The fight for voting rights lasted for years leading up to the ratification of the 19th amendment. The first women’s rights convention in the United States was held in 1848 with the movement beginning a few years before. Women were deliberately left out of the Constitution as only men were considered citizens and voters, per the 14th Amendment. After nearly seventy years of fighting, advocating, campaigning, protesting, women were finally heard and seen as equal being in terms of voting rights.
Women are still fighting to be seen and heard as equals in regards to many other issues, and that justifies the argument that as women we should be voting in every single election we are able to. Our voices and opinions matter and should be considered by our elected officials. Women need representation in government and voting for officials that will represent women is crucial.
There are countless ways to cast your vote for the upcoming election. Early voting in Virginia has been going on since September 19th and will continue until October 31st. After that you may cast your vote on Election Day like you normally would. Absentee ballot and mail in ballot are also available to voters to get a head start on casting their vote. Safety precautions are in place at the polls so that casting your vote in person is no threat to your health although a pandemic is still raging.
Presidential elections typically get all the spotlight, being seen as the only time when voting matters, but this is not the case. All elections, even local, state, and primary elections are important. Elections on smaller levels can directly affect you and you absolutely have a right to decide who is in positions of power to make decisions representing you in government.
However, this presidential election will be pivotal in our society. The outcome of this election will set the tone for what our country will become.
The system is flawed yes, the electoral college is imperfect, the country is imperfect. Systems and people in charge are imperfect. However, we can help change that. The power of the people can change the injustice and the flaws. Every vote counts, and should be cast.
In this presidential election people are claiming that they won’t be casting a vote because they don’t approve of either candidate. As I said, it isn’t perfect, it never will be, but we have to take the choices we have and make a decision. A decision based on what we think is right and best for each and every one of us, for the nation. Think of it as more of what candidate is going to uphold the ideals and values you believe to be important and will carry out duties in the manner you see fit for the position of most powerful person in the country. Who is going to take care of the nation and its people. That is who you should vote for. The actions that will be carried out in the role of president.
We should be voting not only for those that are actively being faced with the injustice in our country on a daily basis but also for the countless women who were faced with the injustice in our country throughout its history. There were women who risked their lives for the right to have a voice in a country that has claimed a foundation of freedom for all. Freedom should come in the form of what is necessary for the people. Voting is a basic foundation to this nation being a democracy.
All citizens – no matter, sex, gender, race, religion, ideology – should be granted that basic foundational right.
With this election being so monumental, with unlimited information to be an informed voter, with easy access to ballots and the polls, and with the argument made here for women specifically there really is no excuse for you to miss this election.
Voices were silenced because they were women without any other justification. Don’t let them silence you, don’t let them oppress you.
Go and vote. Vote for those that need justice now and vote for countless women who never had the chance to vote.
