My vote doesn’t count! The election’s already been decided. I don’t like either one of the candidates, so I’m not going to vote. These comments and more came up last night in the U.S. History class I’m currently teaching. Where, I wonder, did we develop this profound sense of helplessness; this defeatist attitude? My overwhelming desire was to take the class by its figurative ear and give it a hard shake.
Of course your vote counts! But it is the culmination of a long process of grassroots campaigns, committee meetings, and local rallies. The candidates we have before us in the current election didn’t just pop out of the woodwork or crawl out from under a rock (as one student suggested). They are the product of a chain of events that goes back for years. If, like most of us, you sit outside the process, uninformed and uninvolved at the local level and only jump in at the last minute to cast your ballot, you should not be surprised to feel disenfranchised.
Get involved from the get-go. Find time to attend your local town council. Volunteer to be on a citizen’s advisory committee. Communicate regularly, and thoughtfully, and respectfully, to those who are already in office. Work on the campaign of someone you actually like. They will appreciate the support. Even better, run for office yourself! If you don’t like the candidates that are stepping forward, then step forward yourself. Take it from one who’s done it. Campaigning for a locally elected office gives one a deep appreciation for the challenges that face candidates on the national stage.
Your vote counts! Every vote will count in the coming election. Do it once and do it right. This country needs you.
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