Every Vote Matters

Voting is an important right and privilege in the United States of America. Although voting is not mandatory, I believe there is a moral obligation to participate in elections at all levels of government, from local to national.

The USA voting-age population turnout lags many other countries. In the 2020 national elections, the 62.8% turnout of the voting-age population in the U.S. ranked 31 out of 49 compared to national elections in member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (Pew Research).

People offer a variety of excuses for not participating in the election process, including:

• I did not register in time.
• I work on Tuesday.
• I can’t get to the polls.
• I don’t like any of the candidates.
• My vote doesn’t matter.

Recent elections have underscored the fact that every vote matters.

With a little planning most of these obstacles can be overcome. Laws have changed to provide alternate means for registering and for casting a ballot. Community organizations work to provide transportation to the polls.

It is not too soon to begin preparations for the next election. Perhaps you can become a candidate or work to support others who you believe will provide the quality of representation your community and country deserve.

Vote.gov is a government website which addresses how to register and answers questions about the election process. This is a challenge to each of us to help spread the message of the importance of voting.

It is not illegal to choose not to vote, but it represents a moral failure to those who have given their lives to secure and protect the right to vote.

Let’s be ready to vote!