Over the years, voting has become so controversial is almost scary. Many people believe in voting while most millennials have given up hope. Most millennials feel voting has let them down, especially since the 2016 election. That year, many millennials voted and because of it, Hillary Clinton won 2.1% more popular votes than Donald Trump and somehow he still won the race.
That was a slap in the face. It hurt. In a way it has made some of us bitter. But contrary to popular belief, voting still is the key. Sounds good, right? Well let me explain just why it’s STILL important to vote.
1. You Have the Right to Vote
Although it wasn’t until 1868 in which blacks were considered to be citizens that alone didn’t give us the right to vote. Many blacks who tried to vote at that time were turned down by the polls. But in 1870, Congressmen passed the Fifteenth Amendment that stated,
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
Thus giving us the right to vote. When you think about it. Why would we have been turned down at all? Why would they not want us to vote?
Because voting is power.
2. Taxes
Voting gives you the opportunity to direct where your taxes will be spent. Contingent upon the plan at hand, your taxes will go towards a particular strategy that often times includes funding for health care and social services. If you are forced to pay taxes, you might as well have a say so in where it’s going to go.
3. Voting Changes Things
Are you pleased with how things are going for the country? Voting promotes the opportunity for change. You can make an impact. There’s a bigger picture to your vote alone. Yet and still, you make a difference.
4. Your Voice Matters
You can’t be a person that complains about how things aren’t going the way they should and not vote. If you choose not to vote, you’re choosing to be silent no matter how many words are coming out of your mouth. Silence is violence in more cases than one. And in this particular instance, if you don’t vote, you’ll be giving the enemy the upper hand (I said what I said).
5. We Need Your Vote
Although your vote matters and it’s personal, you aren’t just voting for yourself. You’re voting for your community. You’re voting for a better environment. You’re voting to change things. Elections have consequences. Great things will happen with the right people in office.
It’s important for us to begin to get more educated in the area of voting. Truth be told, many of us have voted in the past, solely because a parent or grandparent wanted us to. But we need to begin to see the reason to vote for ourselves. If we push, we can change the world together. Lord knows it needs lots of changing.
So this election, make sure you’re a part. You matter. Your voice matters. Your power matters. Let’s do this! Get registered and get ready!