Shape tomorrow by voting today
The midterm elections are drawing near. This November 6th, one-third of the seats in the Senate and all the seats in the House of Representatives go up for grabs. Additionally, many states will be voting to elect new governors, mayors, and other officers to their state legislatures.
Many people seem to think that their one vote can’t possibly make a difference, but it does. Your voice and your opinions today are what help mold the future. Voting is a civic right of the people to make the decision of who they want as their leader – don’t be afraid to get out there and speak up!
Why You Should Vote
Did you know that only 60% of voters actually vote? That means that around 40% of America isn’t voicing their opinion. 40% of the population is allowing a little over half the population to dictate who is elected – imagine, if even 15% more people showed up to the polls, the difference that could be made in the election.
But does your vote even matter that much? The answer is yes. This article provides a short, incomplete list of all the times a single vote made the difference. For example, in 1982, the state of Maine’s House election was won by a candidate who received 1387 votes – and the loser had 1386. Just because you only have one vote doesn’t mean it isn’t useful!
Not to mention that if too many voters from one party were to stay home instead of voting, then the elected official may not accurately represent the views of the community. Staying home is essentially like asking a random stranger on the street to make your vote for you without knowing what their views are. Remember, the leaders the population elects are the people that get to make the decisions that directly impact you and your entire faction.
Plus, if you make it out to the polls, you get a cool sticker to show off!
Preparing to Vote
Before you head out to the polls, it’s important to do your research beforehand. This way, you can make an informed vote instead of simply voting along party lines – every candidate has their passions, and you might be surprised by which candidates you end up liking!
There are plenty of tools out there to help you get educated. USA.gov has an entire page dedicated to voter research, and Vote411.org even allows you to build your personalized ballot by comparing candidates on-site so you know exactly who to vote for.
Voting is a really easy way to get your voice out there. America is lucky to have the privilege of allowing the people to decide who gets to lead the states, so take advantage of your right! Even if you aren’t crazy about politics, think about the changes you’d like to see in your community – it all starts with who gets voted in to office!
Ariel Westphal
“Hi there! I’m Ariel, the Marketing Director for Acumen Connections. I led the team in establishing Acumen Connections’ identity and processes when Brian J. Staver purchased the company in 2017. Nowadays, Renee and Anna do most of the heavy lifting on the content writing side as I oversee all marketing initiatives, but our team works together to create an environment that supports Acumen Connections’ mission of “Building Business Connections”.