When did you decide you wanted to vote? I have been passionate about voting since I was in middle school. Kerry Washington couldn’t remember if it was 7th or 8th grade. I remember it was 8th grade, with Mr. Visser. After we memorized the Preamble, I knew, I wanted to vote.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The Preamble of the Constitution.
I didn’t understand all of the inequalities beholden by the man and men who wrote these words, but we did discuss, in-depth, “more perfect”. This constitution is a living, dynamic document that should get better as it is pushed to a higher standard, to include more people, to establish more sovereignty to those who honor it. Eventually, black people were recognized as a whole person and not just 3/5. Eventually, women were included in the People. Eventually, people who held no property were also enabled to vote.
Every Presidential election, the election with which we all come together to singularly choose an office to represent all of us, we have the choice of moving forward to a higher ordeal, or not. We vote for our values.
I hate the “you are with us or against us” false dichotomy. And, in this election, I am going to challenge you to shore up the one party that seems to have the interests of “all the People” at heart. And, while we support this one party that has the interests of all the People at heart, let us work to make it and the rest of our nation better. Let us be more fiscally conservative while shoring up our social policies. Let us understand what liberty means for a diverse range while making responsible choices in understanding all of the epi and pandemics that plague us. While we work to create an educated populace, let us continue to embrace the neurodiversity that is alive and construct our education in a way that better supports all learning types.
Above all, vote.
If you are 18 and a citizen of these United States, you have the right to vote. It is the single easiest thing you can do to participate in this great country. Exercise that responsibility as often as you are able – with every local, state, and federal election.
Here are some tools to help you.
- Check your registration here: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/
- Double-check when you need to be registered here: https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/
- Fill out your absentee ballot if your state does not offer mail-in-voting: https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/
- Have a plan. Don’t have a plan? Text VOTE to 30330, and you will be guided to get a plan.
Here are some words form former President Barrack Obama.
Remember, VOTE.
P.S. Here’s a great resource for how to communicate with your legislators, before, after, and during any election.
0 Comments