Tomorrow is election day, and you have probably been bombarded with messages from campaigns, from SuperPACs, from the media, even from PSA’s saying, “Go vote, go vote, go vote!”
I understand having the feeling of, “What difference does one vote make?” I mean, really, if there are going to be millions of people voting in this election, what possible difference could my vote make, right?
Well, let me tell you why your vote matters.
Last week, I had the pleasure of talking with a young Venezuelan woman who came to the United States with her family when she was very young, right after Hugo Chavez had come to power. She described a how a country that was once fruitful, with a bountiful economy and private land ownership, had turned into a land of starvation and government corruption under Chavez’ socialist regime.
While Chavez came to power initially in what many consider a fair election, he maintained his power through forced, coerced, and crooked elections.
Now, if you’re still stuck on, “Why does my vote matter?” let me tell you this. I understand. When I was younger, I had the same thoughts, and I didn’t vote as often as I should. But eventually I realized voting was my responsibility – the bare minimum of what I should do as a U.S. citizen. Not only that, but it was a huge gift!
Is our government perfect? Absolutely not! The fact is, in the United States, we have loads of room to improve, but we’ve also got a tremendous blessing, which is this: Regardless of money, or power, or fame, you can go into that ballot box and make a determination of who you want to lead your community, your state, and our nation of your own free will. That is a powerful thing! It makes our country GREAT! And it is a privilege that not many citizens of the world get to experience.
I hope you’ll join me in voting tomorrow, and however the election results turn out on Tuesday, that we will celebrate our right to vote, celebrate our ability to engage on important issues, and celebrate being Americans.
