To Vote or Not To Vote

The importance of voting, a hot topic right now with Election Day upon us. As an expected civic duty, many have always been on the fence on whether their vote really counts or not. Torn between choosing candidates one may disagree with or not support. Present and past candidates, failing to follow through with promises, in which are a huge role in their election. These are a few of the many reasons that have affected the young generational voting class.

Voting, serving as your public opinion effecting several aspects our lives, as we choose candidates for representative offices. Local elections involving state, districts, city and communities have more of a direct effect on our everyday lives. The ability to have an opinion in which direction your nation is going in all facets, as well as who leads your nation should be a topic of importance. This effects our present and future lives tremendously in several aspects. In several nations, citizens are not allowed the right to vote. Most being ruled by communism or dictatorship, North Korea, China, Cuba and Iran just to name a few. There is a reason why these citizens aren’t allowed to vote!

Looking back briefly at the history of America, minority voting suppression has been incessant for centuries. Black Americans gaining the official right to vote in 1870, with the 15th Amendment, most being newly freed slaves. The 15th Amendment gives all men of all races the right to vote, effecting ALL. This quickly became an issue for racial oppressors within the country. Since it’s founding, the United States only allowed one class of people to vote until later in the 1800’s. White males, who owned property. This allows them to legally control and implement laws, restrictions, inequalities, etc within the nation. In attempting to suppress the 15th Amendment, racially discriminatory poll taxes and literacy exams, along with violent crimes including murder, continued to suppress the Black vote from influencing equality in our nation. Jim Crow laws, groups such as the KKK, ex-confederates, and other oppressors. Continued to physically and politically harass and heavily influence the suppression of minority groups. Another barrier created would be the racially discriminatory and unfair law enforcement and judicial system, minorities make up a large penitentiary population. Convicted felons losing their voting rights, became another method in voter suppression. The struggle continued until the famous Civil Rights Movement, where the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were implemented into law. Women weren’t allowed to vote until 1920 with the 19th Amendment, lifting the last restriction on all people having the right vote.

People in general have many dislikes about government, jobs, schools, environment, laws, restrictions, etc. Voting locally and nationally will help change those things as actions speak louder than words! The majority of voters are usually older citizens, who will more times than none vote traditionally and conservatively. The lack of younger voter influence does not benefit us in ever changing world, far removed from the past oppressions and inequalities. Young people are a powerful voice representing nearly half of our population.

I’ll close with this... If your vote doesn’t matter so much, why have they always worked so hard to take it away?