Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers

Why Everyone Should Vote

Written by Gage Tarlton 

In 2008, only 62.3 percent of the people eligible showed up to put their voices to action by voting in the Obama vs. McCain election. In 2012, that number dropped to a whopping 57.5 percent. In other words, a little less than half of eligible Americans are not turning up to vote.!

Imagine if all of the people that were eligible showed up to vote in the 2008 election. The outcome may have been much different than the one we know. Obama may have never been elected as President. Or we could go back to the 2008 primary election, where in some states, the turnout rate was as low as 2.6 percent. Or maybe it wouldn’t have been much different at all. We will never know the answer. Below are some reason’s why everyone SHOULD vote:

1.) If you don’t vote, your voice is not being heard. It is a way to let your opinions be put to action by voting for and supporting the candidate whose opinions you most resonate with. (If you don’t know which candidate is the best fit for you, take the test here: https:// www.isidewith.com)

2.) Your vote really does count. All votes count. Imagine if everyone had the mindset, “Oh well, my vote isn’t going to make a difference so what’s the point?” Nothing in this country would ever get done and change would never be accomplished.

3.) If you don’t vote, you probably don’t matter, at least in the government’s eyes. By voting, you acquire credibility. Elected officials care more about your opinion if you played a role in getting them elected in the first place.

Here are some things you should not do when making excuses as to why you didn’t vote:

1.) Do not use the argument that you don’t care about the candidates. In the election right now, there are more than 20 candidates running. There is AT LEAST one that you agree with over the others. !

2.) Do not complain. A common discussion I encounter frequently is someone complaining about the economic or political status of our country and blaming it on the government, to which I ask them, “Well, who did you vote for?” More times than not, the answer I receive is, “Oh, I didn’t vote.” How can you complain if you didn’t even allow your voice to be heard when it was needed?

Many young people will be voting for the first time in 2016. I highly encourage everyone to get out there and vote when the primary election* and general election days roll around. The outcome of the election will change your life in ways that you don’t even realize, whether it be socially, economically, or politically. The importance of voting can’t be stressed enough. It truly can make a difference. By voting, you’re involved in making a historical decision. By voting, you become a part of history. !

*Primary elections begin at the beginning of 2016. The date is different for all states. Contact your local government office to find out the date of your state’s primary election.

Comments are closed.

Related Posts