Everyone wants to make a difference. We all want our voice to be heard. Our political system draws from these facts and allows the people to ultimately decide what happens in our nation. The democratic system that America follows provides the ideal environment for freedom in important areas, such as religion, press, and speech.
However, some citizens think that their voice can’t be heard amid the tide of opposing opinions. When their turn comes to vote, they ignore their civic duty, staying home instead. Voter apathy such as this causes less than the full voice of the people to be heard.
Why do people think that their vote doesn’t count? Some claim that if they find themselves among many other people whose opinion contradicts their own, their voice will be drowned out. However, imagine that many voters on one side of an issue thought in this negative light. Even if the majority of voters wanted one thing, they would get the opposite, because of their countrymen’s sluggish nature.
In California, many apathetic voters fall under the Republican banner, since in the presidential election, their state’s electoral votes go each and every year to the opposing Democratic party. They then claim that putting their input into the popular vote would have no effect, since the 55 electoral votes are what decides our nation’s leader anyway.
However, how are those in power supposed to know the will of the people without the popular vote? Nobody will realize that some Californians think differently if they don’t convey their opinion. In our nation, the best and simplest way to do this is to go to a polling place and do your duty.
If polled, I imagine that most Americans prefer the idea of a democracy over that of a dictatorship. Why else would they live in a nation where freedom is held above all else? Those same Americans might not realize that a democracy without the input of the people closely resemble a dictatorship. Without the people’s vote as a guiding influence, a leader simply follows his own opinions, regardless of what thoughts occupy the public mind. Therefore, continual participation in the polling process must occur for our nation to maintain the level of liberty that we enjoy.
Many members of the class of 2016 approach voting age within the next year. As one such student, I encourage seniors to educate themselves on important issues in politics. Then, when an opportunity arises to make a difference through voting on an issue, no topic will be unfamiliar.
Overcome the cynical mindset that pushes you back into your chair and embrace the full beauty of American democracy. Everyone’s ideas matter, from first time voters to experienced veterans of the ballot box. Instead of complaining about the government’s issues and doing nothing, improve the system yourself with the power of the vote.
Information for this article was found at KQED News, History.com, and University of Manitoba.
This author can be reached via Twitter: @Andrew_Mooooore and via email: [email protected].
