ROBERT D. CRAIG

WHY YOUR VOTE COUNTS

February 2/28/2021

The 2021 election is upon us! It’s time to get out there and exercise our voting privileges! The U.S.’s voting history began in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Of course, only a small portion of the population was allowed to vote: white land-owning males over twenty-one. It would take near 150 years for women to gain the right to vote in 1920 (only 100 years ago!) and an additional four years for Native Americans to be able to cast their ballots. Elections seem like a far off thing, reserved for politicians in Washington, but they impact all of us on a very personal level. 

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Voting is important because it allows people to have a say in the policies that govern them. The U.S. was founded as a democracy after the thirteen colonies separated from the oppressive British rule. As the U.S. nation has progressed, laws have been passed, and amendments made to allow more people to have a voice: women, people of color, the disabled, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. For that very reason, voting is a vital part of the future. The more people that make their voices heard, the more the world can change to reflect those people and their needs.

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Voting in any type of election, from local elections to Presidential primaries, provides an important way to voice your opinions regarding elected leaders and overall policies. Voting also helps you decide your own future by electing a person who might reflect your own views.

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God Bless this great land of ours. 

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