Get critical information, The Next100 takes your data security and privacy seriously. Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent UnitedStatesNow medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Why Voting Is Important Resource ARTICLE Why Voting Is Important "Voting is your civic duty." This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. In order to create your account we need you to provide your email address. In the US, in most cases, you must be registered to vote. Should b popular vote only. Why the Voting Gap Matters If we do not close voter turnout gaps, our democracy is destined to become less and less representative in the coming decades Sean McElwee Download the Full PDF IN THIS PUBLICATION Who Votes? var contentListProps = { Fortunately there is a significant amount of academic research on the importance of . It's hard to motivate ourselves and others to vote. I think it's a quiet protest to the system. Additionally, if you dont live in a swing state, candidates dont even bother trying to get your vote. But lets not lose the nuance of the many complications involved in, and simultaneously dismissed by, campaigns that simply say, Go vote. There are active ways in which people are kept from voting, all of which overwhelmingly affect low-income Black and Brown communities. doesanykne remember how angry bush got when he was announced the loser. This indirect election method was seen as a balance between the popular vote and using a states representatives in Congress to elect a president.Because the Constitution did not specifically say who could vote, this question was largely left to the states into the 1800s. Article. The glamorous dumbass technology said it was a duplicate post so add this to my previous post. Get critical information here. Resize. This way, you can be part of the leadership you believe is truly necessary for change. Im independent just like my ancestors were when they claimed this land. var contentListProps = { What is the purpose of the electoral college if the popular vote can determines who is president? How can we make it work the way it was meant to work? Each of the authors of this article, currently or in the past, has not had that right because of legal disenfranchisement. It turns out that Senators don't really care what non-voters think. The framers were wrong for creating the electoral college and its still wrong today. Your voice matters. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Although the nation goes to the voting booths on November 8, each states electors meet on the Monday following the second Wednesday of December to cast their votes, which is December 19, 2016, this year. I agree. The process, if approved, will . If your Facebook account does not have an attached e-mail address, you'll need to add that before you can sign up. It is very misleading, so what is the point of debating, Trumps ridiculous rallies, political commercials etc if the popular vote doesnt even count? While young people are historically the group least likely to vote for several reasons, either because they lack encouragement and information, or they think they won't make a difference and find the process too complicated, that's starting to change. Why do college students matter in elections? My opinion is that votes don't matter, simply because of the two-party system. This country always make things complicated in all aspects. i agree this is why i reguse to vote. Does voting matter? Yes, a foreign adversary meddled in that election and Trump benefited from a deeply flawed voting system. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Its all hear say! ); Senator Mike Lee recently even said democracy should not be the objective of the U.S. political system. Why do we even ask if voting matters? The article cited a study that was done to answer this question. No, your vote doesn't matter. There is no level of government that is more directly responsible for serving your community than your local elected officials. And the Trump presidency has most certainly brought change and disruption to most of our lives. Growing up as an undocumented immigrant, Rosario understood that her parents made sacrifices in moving to a new country in order to secure better opportunities for the future. Your email address will not be published. Here are 5 reasons why your vote matters. Whats the registration process like? The civil rights movement, for example, brought former U.S. Representative John Lewis to Congress, who carried the movements legacy into the 21st century. With such active voter suppression, voting has become an act of resistance. Furthermore, the recent passing of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, and during an election year no less, reminds us of the long-fought battle to expand voting rights and the many ways in which we are not yet there. Other unfair legislations such as Jim Crow Laws were dropped from the constitution thus the amendment to the constitution. We also live the reality that there are multiple ways to commit to changemaking which expand beyond voting. It allows the government to reflect the wishes of the majority. I believe they should do away with the electoral college vote due to interference with other countries interfering with our elections. Of course, your vote does not mean that a representative will always represent your views. You hardly hear anything from them until election time, they insult eachother during debates, but get together to play golf on the weekends. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Voting in primary and caucus . Research suggests that if young people voted as much as older citizens, elected officials would be more likely to prioritize the policy issues that are important to them. It's just not a very glamorous activity all by itself. Does it appear that voting doesn't matter? By Megan Samp | November 8, 2022 Like Tweet Email Print More Megan Samp Voters at the Hannah Community Center share why voting matters to them. Throughout history, more than 99 percent of Electors have voted as pledged. How can a candidate who won the popular vote by 4 million people may not be our next president. If youre part of a movement or a dedicated advocate of a cause, you almost certainly need allies in elected office to see your ideas come to fruition. The one thing the government is terrified of is a good majority of Americans turning against them, but with Hillary and Obama and the rest of these thugs, I'm not too sure. ); Unlike in other parts of the U.S., its also easy and comfortable to vote for mostalthough not for allOregonians, thanks to our universal mail-in voting system. Editor's note: This story was updated on April 25, 2022. And how exactly does the electoral colleges give a voice to the rural population. In 2018, 70 percent of the voter registrations on hold in Georgia were for Black individuals. Ahead of the next US election, here are seven facts to get excited about your role in the electoralprocess. Voting is a right often taken for granted in the US. Why should a candidate visit a prison of 1,000 inmates ineligible to vote when they could speak to a church or senior center of 100 who can? Voting is relatively the quickest way to hold politicians accountable, even when it is harder to vote in low-income and segregated communities of color. please upgrade IE 11 or later, Alternatively, you can install and use these secure and newest browsers: Chrome | Firefox | Safari for MacOS | Edge for Windows. Earlier this year, voters seeking to cast their ballot within majorityminority counties in that same state faced four-hour lines, defective voting machines, and insufficient ballots. I have zero trust in any politician. Which are no longer of existence in modern history, if ever! For many people who cant vote, every time we approach a grocery store with a voter registration drivea kind of activism we believe is necessary to increasing civic engagementit feels like a gut punch. The electoral system is broken and does not always reflect public Iinput. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. ); Those are, at this . Seven-hundred and fifty polls have been closed across the state of Texas. For anyone who gets the ballot delivered to their doorstep, there is no real excuse for opting out of democratic participation. Share. estimated each Oregon voter only has a 1 in 390 million chance of being the decisive vote in the 2020 presidential election, it seems fair to ask the question: Does voting even matter? PageHeadlines, Absolutely the Electoral College system should be abolished and the popular vote be the one that determines who will be president. But it seems like such a dull topic. Nothing is simple as it should be. So what should you. The U.S.A. is not anything close to a Democracy. Participating in local and federal elections is one way for people to support policies that serve their communities needs and ensure they have a say in the decisions that benefitsociety. In all elections since the nations founding, except for three, the popular vote aligned with the electoral votes. So while your vote does count as one vote, it will not bring about any change, because the close ties of each party to the government won't allow that to happen. Global Citizen and HeadCount have teamed up to engage young Americans to check their voting status, register, and vote. undocumented individuals are at the forefront of the immigration reform movement, often at significant risk to their safety and well-being. In all but two states, the candidate who wins a majority of popular votes also wins all of that states electoral votes (winner take all rule). There are even so called "democracies" that still do not give the people the right to elect their leaders. Image: Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post/Getty Images. then boom out of nowhere ballots were gound and the electoral vote changed in his favor. Its thus wise to consider whether you really want to give up the right to vote, and let the government make all its decisions without regard to your opinion. This is something that rests in the power of politicians which is why all of our rights in truth are pretty much based on the personal bias of the sitting senators and representatives, and in these current times its especially screwed up because theyre so stuck on their personal parties vendetta against the opposing parties that theyre not even doing anything significant to help the American people. October 28, 2020 Simone Golob/Getty Images Summary. Its not just that lawmakers dont speak to our issues or vie for our support; its that the resulting policies are formed without our input and without regard for the people most affected by those policies, thus reinforcing a cycle of inequality. I think President Trump still has something to say about that though. v3Styles: true, Most of my life, I thought that the USA was a democracy, but I now realize that since it is actually a constitutional republic, it doesnt feel much like a democracy, therefore, our government is flawed. bindComponentToDiv( In fact dont text at all. Weve seen firsthand how not being able to vote can make people disinterested in and disillusioned by the political process. pageHeadlineProps contentListProps Others say voting may be a form of egocentrism, noting that some Americans appear to believe that because they are voting, people similar to them who favor the same candidate or party will probably vote, too, a psychological mechanism called the "voter's illusion." In the general election, you are eligible to vote for any candidate from any party. Get rid of it and only let senators and governors have a 8 year term in office. Furthermore, it adds to the problem which arises when they do their redistricting. The odds for the average person are 60 million to 1 against it, a . few actually register and then show up to vote. Just look at California. Rather than winner take all. voting and participating in the democratic process are key. Imaginary theories. The freedom to vote is America's most important political right outside of the original Bill of Rights, and it is also the most hard-won right. Learn how to register to vote, volunteer, and take action right now! Whether its criminal justice reform: reforming the 44,000 laws that serve as perpetual punishment for individuals after their terms are served by limiting their access to employment, education, housing, and more; or immigration reform: raising awareness about the many positive contributions that immigrants make to our communities, the economy, and our country; or advocating for the rights of students of immigrant backgrounds, their access to quality education, and increased protections for their families, weve made the choice to reclaim by engaging as fully as we can. She or he will best know the preferred format. East Lansing voters talk about why voting matters to them. Americans do not live in freedom. casting a vote when ineligible, even unintentionally, is a felony. Who matters more: the 3 million people (popular vote) for Hillary Clinton; or 307 electors (people) for Donald Trump? It's saying that if your vote goes toward a major party nominee, it's basically going to the government, whereas if you vote independent, your candidate is going to lose. For anyone who gets the ballot delivered to their doorstep, there is no real excuse for opting out of democratic participation. You do have to go and vote in order for them to pay attention to your opinions. contentList: JSON.parse('[{\u0022id\u0022:21525,\u0022thumbnails\u0022:{\u0022medium\u0022:{\u0022landscape\u0022:\u0022https://media.globalcitizen.org/thumbnails/20/2e/202e9d0a\u002D8b89\u002D4a9f\u002Dac56\u002Df0e87d258e99/element5\u002Ddigital\u002Dls8kc0p9haa\u002Dunsplash.jpg__800x600_q85_crop_subsampling\u002D2.jpg\u0022,\u0022portrait\u0022:\u0022https://media.globalcitizen.org/thumbnails/20/2e/202e9d0a\u002D8b89\u002D4a9f\u002Dac56\u002Df0e87d258e99/element5\u002Ddigital\u002Dls8kc0p9haa\u002Dunsplash.jpg__600x800_q85_crop_subsampling\u002D2.jpg\u0022,\u0022landscape_16_9\u0022:\u0022https://media.globalcitizen.org/thumbnails/20/2e/202e9d0a\u002D8b89\u002D4a9f\u002Dac56\u002Df0e87d258e99/element5\u002Ddigital\u002Dls8kc0p9haa\u002Dunsplash.jpg__800x450_q85_crop_subsampling\u002D2.jpg\u0022},\u0022large\u0022:{\u0022landscape_16_9\u0022:\u0022https://media.globalcitizen.org/thumbnails/20/2e/202e9d0a\u002D8b89\u002D4a9f\u002Dac56\u002Df0e87d258e99/element5\u002Ddigital\u002Dls8kc0p9haa\u002Dunsplash.jpg__1600x900_q85_crop_subsampling\u002D2.jpg\u0022},\u0022credits\u0022:{\u0022caption\u0022:null,\u0022author\u0022:\u0022Element5 Digital / Unsplash\u0022,\u0022description\u0022:\u0022\u0022}},\u0022title\u0022:\u00225 Myths About Voting in the US, Debunked\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/voting\u002Dmyths\u002Dunited\u002Dstates\u002Dus/\u0022}]'), We must challenge that intentional exclusion with an even greater resolve to be involved in change. Does Your Vote Really Matter? Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. In US Politics, what is a Nomination by Acclamation? Take, for example, the 2020 Portland mayoral election. It sounds like they are in agreement that Joe Biden won. It does not matter if you are registered with a political party or who you voted for in the past. Cite This Essay. Big idea: In every election, whether voter turnout is high or low, one person is elected in each electoral district and ends up with the power to make decisions that affect all of us. being a U.S. citizen living in a U.S. territory. ContentList, Two times the popular vote didnt work, and they just said that they hold up the original law. Need support with ensuring youre able to vote during this election cycle? The short answer is: absolutely! I feel that the electoral votes should be abolish and that the president elect should be the choice of the people. Citizens around the world dont always have the freedom to appoint their leaders. It is instead we the electoral college. Today, in 21st century America, the propaganda and cultural conditioning that each and every citizen is exposed to from birth to death prevents them from seeing what they are truly a part of vis-a-vis the world at large. It is quite sickening! All rights reserved. While solutions to the voting dilemma remain fluid, the turnout rate in the U.S. may also come down to the age . Select states also let 17-year-olds participate in primary elections. Carry on folks. Marginalized groups from women to Black people havent always had the right to vote, and laws still try to silence their voices. Furthermore, undocumented individuals are at the forefront of the immigration reform movement, often at significant risk to their safety and well-being. By using the popular vote to determine presidency you are getting an accurate measure of the general publics approval. Generally, you look for those representatives that most closely share your views. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. Need support with ensuring youre able to vote during this election cycle? Lastly, voting matters because this is a time when we need to make a collective statement in support of democracy. restrictive voter registration processes, the purging of voter rolls. Ive also researched. These misleading narratives have to be disrupted, and wherever local realities allow non-citizens to vote in local elections and/or restore the voting rights of the formerly incarcerated, proactive measures need to be taken to inform us of what weve been taught to assume we cant have. Every one should have their vote counted as to who becomes president, not the electric college. Exercising and therefore reaffirming our right to vote is one important way to show that we, the people, will not relinquish that right. Why Does Voting Matter? The question as to whether voting matters is a difficult one to answer. The Economist Intelligence Unit already downgraded the U.S. to a flawed democracy and this democracy is ever-more eroding in the face of voter suppression and gerrymandering, as well as Trumps refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and not-so-veiled calls for voter intimidation. it is a known fact that politicians will lie, and will tell you anything just to get your vote, and afterward it is busiiness as usual where the rich get richer and the poor (you know how the rest of it goes). Similarly, the three of us have committed our lives to the project of democracy, working day in and day out to change policies that affect us and our communities. Typically in the United States,national elections drawlarge numbers of voters compared to local elections. We are extremely luck to have this right. For many people who cant vote, every time we approach a grocery store with a voter registration drivea kind of activism we believe is necessary to increasing civic engagementit feels like a gut punch. This could, in itself, be a good argument for voting. Required fields are marked *. In my opinion, I think the electoral college should be abolished. Fourth, voting matters becauseno matter what people sayit does produce change. In all but two states, the candidate who wins a majority of popular votes also wins all . . I realize there are inequities of how this land was claimed but thats another topic. Do we out ourselves and explain that were not registered because were ineligible to vote? Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) estimated that 31% of eligible people ages 18 to 29 voted in the 2018 midterms a record turnout at the time. While reclaiming agency is both needed and necessary, retreat from civic life has not proven to be a fruitful way of doing so. The art of deceiving: Shu, Not sure what to do the rest of the week? Every citizen voter, taxpayer and 501c3 entity within the U.S. and its territories are this war machine that has murdered millions of innocent men, women and children both domestically and internationally since 1787 . Why cant electoral college be dropped? Otherwise there will be less and less voter turnout especially with the younger generation who many already dont believe it matters if they vote or not. And not only does your vote count more in local elections, the results of local races also often have more direct. Yet we cannot help but recognize that informed and consistent voting can be a quick and sure way to make immediate headway towards more inclusive policy and government accountability. We live in a shitty country based on lies. We detected that you're using an older version of Internet Explorer. Voting is important. Situational early voters are people who must vote early because they are away from their homes, like our military deployed abroad, or are too ill to make it to the polls. We began as a nation where rights were restricted to only . It is supposed to be we the people afterall am I mistaken? Bilderbergs / Rosthschild / Smithsonian etc Are not familys per say! What are states and local communities doing to inform and engage potential new voters? bindComponentToDiv( But voter registration totals can reveal a lot about how much people think votes matter. In many states, voting in the 2020 presidential election wasas simple as dropping off an envelope at the post office.
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