After last Tuesday, it should be clear that voting is an essential piece of our nation.
It is how we elect our leaders and decide on important topics, but, most importantly, it is the only way United States citizens get to directly voice our opinions for our government’s performance. That is why it is so frustrating for me to hear people I know speak nonchalantly about this election. There are so many reasons: they are not sure if they are going to go vote, they just do not feel like waking up that early, waiting in line or any other excuse that we all hear.
Voting is one of the most important things we do as Americans, and the system we use for governing does not work unless we as citizens do our part. Another excuse I hear is, “It does not matter who is elected, nothing will change anyway” and “The world will keep on turning regardless of who is elected.” That is simply not true — just because you may not feel the effects of the election, others do.
It is such a privilege to look at the ballot and vote for no one but yourself. It is even more of a privilege to decide that the vote meant to represent the populous is not worth your time. What is the point of pushing for change if you are just going to throw it away and not use it? By voting, not only do you get to use your voice for the future of this country, but you also get to enjoy the right that so many have pushed for you to have.
Looking up the phrase “Is President Donald Trump a white supremacist?” brings up a plethora of articles discussing his character and who he associates himself with. There is no shock when looking at stats from the Pew Research Center to see that a majority of White people prefer Donald Trump. But wait — it does not stop there. Not only is the racial majority voting for the racist, assaulter and felon, but the men, those without college degrees and those over the age of 50.
Not just that, but after the rallies toward the end of his campaigns featuring concepts of plans, racist “jokes” and his deplorable claims for protecting women “whether they like it or not,” it has become increasingly clear that those Trump hates are also hated by the voters that support him. A campaign based on hatred, bigotry and self-interest will never serve the citizens of the United States.
To all of those who did not vote because there were “no good candidates,” I hope there is no reason to regret that decision. For those who voted for Green Party Nominee Jill Stein, I hope there is no reason to look back on that vote and prefer Vice President Kamala Harris. As of right now, those who are feeling grave loss from this election can only hope for the best, advocating for ourselves until the end. These next four years may be grim after the results of this last election, but we cannot give up now. We must always use our voice to cast our votes because our lives depend on it.
