Vote: A Beacon For Hope
By Katie Mayer
Election season is right around the corner, so get informed, get involved and get out to vote!
The primary presidential elections to vote for party candidates are approaching Mar. 5. To register to vote, you can go online, in person at an election office or by mail. The last day to register online is Feb. 20 or in person on Mar. 5.
Voting may seem like a very tedious process. You do your research, drop your ballot in the mail, wait for results all for it to seem like nothing even improves. Year after year, this cycle continues. So why even vote?
Voting is a privilege, where we the people, get to decide how our delegates can best serve us and our communities. Everyone is always focused on the presidential election, which yes, it is important, but real change starts small.
America is built on democracy, meaning every single vote counts. While partly true, America is actually a republic, where we vote for representatives who make decisions for us. Let us go back to the basics.
First, there are two houses that makeup Congress: the House of Representatives, which is representative of each state’s population, and the Senate, where every state has two seats. Representatives have two-year terms, while Senators have six-year terms.
Second, presidential elections (general elections) occur every four years. During that same year, parties will vote for their candidate. If you are registered in a certain party, you can vote for the presidential candidate of your choosing to represent the party. These are called the primaries (which are coming up!)
Next, Midterm elections occur every two years, half of the president’s term. During each midterm, a third of the Senate and all House of Representatives seats are up for re-election.
Local elections are also typically held every two years around the same time as midterms. During this election, voters decide on school board members, city council, mayors, governors, judges and more.
To make small changes, we need to look local. It is imperative that you are involved in local policies, town elections, local judges, and school board members.
These are the people who affect our day-to-day life. They make policies about public safety, housing, budgets and so much more.
Additionally, the people we vote for, also vote for others. For example, a common argument for not voting is that “the Electoral College votes for the president, so my vote does not even count” Well, we vote for those in the Electoral College.
There are two processes when deciding an elector in the Electoral College. The first part occurs when the state’s party nominates possible electors. The second part occurs when one vote for the electors during the general election, whose names are typically printed below the presidential candidates.
All things considered, it is extremely important to vote. Voting is a right that was fought for. It is a way to make your voice heard and dictate changes in your communities.
To learn about candidates, their backgrounds as well as achievements are printed on the ballot. If you are looking for in-depth information, Vote Smart has information about candidates, propositions and more.
Your vote has the capacity to make change. Unite at the polls.