A Vote is a Statement
As if we all didn’t know, tomorrow is election day, and yes, this is another plea to get out and vote. Hopefully, I’ll hit on some good points or at least hit some nerve that pushes you to get out and exercise what may be the most important freedom we have – voting. As I am wont to do, I’ll give you some links at the end of the blog that will give you information on what to do and where to go to vote and to register on election day if your state allows it.
The candidates are giving their final closing statements and are frantically working to get their voters to go to the polls. Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump realize that apathy by their voting block can be deadly in a race that’s so close. They both realize that Americans often aren’t very enthusiastic about voting. For instance, In the 2020 elections there were 231.6 million American citizens that were 18 or older and eligible to vote, only 73% of them took the time to even register to vote. That’s 62.5 million voting-age American citizens who didn’t register. In the final analysis, 67% of those 18 years and older actually voted in 2020. No wonder all the candidates are urging voters to register and vote.
I recognize that I’m speaking to three different groups of people: those who haven’t registered and will probably be the hardest to get to the polls today or tomorrow, those who are registered but haven’t voted yet, and those who have already voted. Each of you has reasons, some better than others, as to why you haven’t registered, haven’t voted, or have already voted. For many I think it comes down to how you personally feel about your country and its freedoms and how you feel about the power of your vote. Much of my motivation for having already voted is centered on how I feel about my country.
When I graduated from college, my draft number was 11, so I was destined to be drafted. My wife and I had scraped and saved to get me through college, and my family had grown by one, so joining the Air Force as an officer was an enticing financial option. I wasn’t a gung-ho recruit but was nevertheless proud to serve. As I served, I developed a deep patriotism that I hadn’t expected, some of which was due to losing close fellow aviators in two different airplane accidents. I grew close to those I flew with as a member of a B-52 crew. Fifty years later, six of us still get together every other year for a week. To me, voting seemed like a gift that those who sacrificed their lives gave me, and I didn’t want to cheapen that gift by not using that freedom. Others may not have had those same experiences, and I understand that, but even though it may not be in vogue these days - it’s the way I honestly feel. Hopefully, it gives you a chance to reflect on the freedoms we have in this country and motivates you to exercise the freedom to vote.
I know that many of you, myself included, have wondered if my one vote will ever make a difference. I would think that most of us have gone through the logic that my vote really doesn’t matter. Even in Georgia, in 2020, where there were 4,935,487 votes cast for the presidential candidates, and Joe Biden won by only 11,779 votes, 10,000 voters could have stayed home, and he still would have won Georgia’s 16 electoral votes. Does any one vote really matter? Some may live in states that are very red or very blue, where one party controls most of the elected positions. I live in a state like that, and I have two observations about whether your vote counts. First, the primaries in these types of states or House districts are where the battle really is. Voting in the primary is really important to the candidates, and they will listen to your stance on important issues. Second, even if you don’t vote for the predominant candidate, your vote is recorded, and pundits and campaign officials look at the percentage of votes the losing candidate gets, and it often has an influence on how the winners govern.
The title of this blog is “Your vote is a statement.” To me, this is the most important reason to vote. I know it’s a cliché, but I think it’s true... If you didn’t participate in the process, you can’t complain about the outcome. Even more powerful is the statement you make that others see as you go through the process of studying the candidates and the issues and making informed decisions when you vote. While I personally abhor the polarization and the vulgar depths that some candidates embrace, I recognize that the freedom of speech is another freedom that men and women have fought to protect.
I congratulate those of you who have already voted and hope those of you who haven’t voted yet have possibly found something in this blog that causes you to do some thinking and maybe, just maybe, motivates you to get out there today or tomorrow and make your vote count . . . make your statement.
Here are some links to help you vote tomorrow. If you haven’t registered, this link will let you select your state and determine the deadlines for registering, including whether you can register on November 5th. This link will let you register if your state allows it this late and will give you the options for voting, including where you can vote or drop off your ballot.
Best, Thair