Why my Vote Matters: no more Silence

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” This quote applies to many different aspects of life, specifically politics. As Americans, we are all familiar with the concept of voting, especially since we live in a democracy. American citizens over the age of 18 are granted the right to vote and to have a voice in our government.

This idea makes our country so unique: the fact that each of our voices is just as loud as the one vociferating from the person beside us. Even the youngest among us are well aware of this precedent: that every four years, a new leader is elected, the authority is relinquished to a new commander with our consent. This idea has occurred since the establishment of our country over 200 years ago; every generation prior to us has fulfilled its responsibility, and it will eventually become our turn to perpetuate this tradition.

Our current generation faces more issues than ever before: skyrocketing college tuition rates, terrorism, and internet censorship. Ironically, young adults, categorized in the eighteen to twenty-four year-old demographic group, consistently have the lowest voter turnout in most elections. This means that the slightest fraction of our peers exert this power. Consequently, young people are extremely unrepresented, and these modern affairs have no concern. The individuals in this generation are the ones who feel as if his or her vote lacks the ability to make a difference, the ones who have forgotten, the ones who haven’t taken the time to fully understand the essential procedure of voting. Our generation simply needs to make a change.

Despite the fact that one vote has no significance in Washington D.C., thousands of votes, millions of votes have the potential to move mountains. If every eligible citizen votes, this group of citizens becomes a force. For instance, the presidential election of 2000 is recognized for being one of the closest races in American History. Citizens who doubted the impact of their votes were eminently disappointed. States were separated by margins in the meager thousands. Even the slightest contrast in voting attendance would have provoked various other outcomes.

Even on a local scale, it’s crucial to participate in politics. Think of the ongoing issues near you: expensive housing rates, homelessness, drugs abuse. If there is anything that needs to be changed, we must take the initiative to correct it. Any and all development in our society simply starts with voting.

It is important for us to remember that we are the incoming leaders of America. New precedents stem from the exchanges of our conversations and thoughts. We are all given the opportunity to gain an understanding of the issues encountering us, and it is crucial for us to learn how to face them. The power is literally in our hands. We must send an indisputable message to politicians in our nation: we are a force to be reckoned with, and we cannot be silenced. 

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