Why Vote? Because Every Grain of Sand Makes Up a Desert

Every vote counts. Every single one. Hence the word “count”, as in tally, calculation, enumerate, add together, or totalize.

“Go get your exclusive sticker” Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Go! Vote! NOW!

Why would you choose not to vote? You need to be engaged in your community, in your town, city, county, state and the United States. If you do not vote, where else would you have any say? Where else is your voice being heard? Do you know who your local representatives are? Or what initiatives are running in your voting precinct? How can you affect change — and “because I said so” is usually not received very well.

“why are you sitting there — get out and vote!” photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

Sitting in the armchair, railing against the television or the Internet, against your local news feed, shrieking of how screwed up things are — what did you do to make a change? Did you vote? Are you even registered to vote? What are you waiting for?

Go register and vote.

To have an apathetic view that “my vote doesn’t count” is an escape. It suggests you really do not care who is in office, what laws are enacted, or what taxes that you pay. You are effectively throwing your money and your voice away. By not voting, a referendum may not pass, a candidate that will affect your life may or may not be elected. By not voting, you are throwing away your opportunity to make a change. By not voting, you are shirking your responsibility to yourself and those nearest you.

Why Every Vote Matters - The Elections Decided By A Single Vote (Or A Little More)
Many Americans say they are disaffected with the system of politics and sit on the sidelines, especially in midterms…www.npr.org

I know I care where my vote goes. I bet your neighbor cares where her vote goes, too. Take the time to study the ballot and the literature, research the candidates, the bills, the races that are being run to determine the best answer. To make the best choices. The best choice is sometimes different than the right choice.

Ignoring the party lines, you may find that one candidate is better than the other. That voting NO on the ballot for a particular initiative is a better choice. Or that voting YES can make schools that much better for your children — or even your children’s children.

Be better than your neighbors. Be better than your coworkers. Prove to them how important it is to get out there and vote!

YOUR vote can actually make a difference.

Originally published on Medium on 05Nov2018