Think Your Vote Doesn't Matter?

Your vote matters to me, and here's why

Some people have recently told me that they may not vote this November. They just don’t believe that their lives will change much because someone else wins or loses an election.

I can’t stop thinking about this. If you think that your vote isn’t important, or won’t make much of a difference, I have a question for you ...

If voting isn’t likely to change your life in any meaningful way, will you consider casting your vote with me in mind?

Some people I know and love fall into each of the categories listed below. Your vote is likely to affect their lives in meaningful ways. And that means that my life will be affected too.

• Military Personnel
  Service members have volunteered to put their lives on the line. For us. Your vote will affect their safety, the amount of time they’re able to spend with their families, and/or their standards of living. Maybe you don’t love anyone in the military, but I do. Will you vote with them in mind?

• Young Women
  Do you know any women or girls who may become pregnant in the future? Maybe you know someone who has strong feelings about how these women ought to manage themselves or their health after they become pregnant. It’s likely that these women could be affected by your vote. Maybe you don’t love any young women, but I do. Will you vote with them in mind?

• Children
  Our youngest citizens rely on all of us to keep them safe and healthy. They rely on us to prepare them for the future. Our future. Some of them count on us to educate them, and most of us rely on them to take the leadership reins after we let them go. Maybe you don’t love any children, but I do. Will you vote with them in mind?

Obviously, this is a short list. It’s my list. And it’s a selfish list. It’s a list based on my hopes and fears. It’s the partial list of thoughts and concerns I consider when I cast my vote. It’s an expression of my values, and it’s an expression of my love. It’s also a reflection of my fears. Hopes, love and fears for my son-in-law, daughter, grandson, friends and family. I value their future. I value my future. And I value your future.

Please, will you do the hard thing and vote? If not for yourself, will you consider me and the people I love?

And remember, without democracy, we could lose our ability to help shape the future. Our future. So when you cast your vote, vote for democracy first. Without it, my future could look very different. And so could yours.


Post submitted by Kathy Haselmaier, a volunteer with The Union from Fort Collins, Colorado

Note: The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single-issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy.

If you’d like to help defend democracy in the US, we invite you to join The Union.