Growing up in the United States, we often take for granted the freedom and liberties we are afforded. We are able to choose, to a certain extent, the people who govern our nation; we can speak in dissent of these officials without the fear of persecution; we are able to publish and say what we feel is right; we can “freely” practice any religion we choose or none at all if that is what we believe. Many brave men and women have fought and sacrificed to keep the ideologies upon which America was founded alive and well. And to repay them this fall, we must all vote!
Democracy is the cornerstone of American values and beliefs. It is not only a right American citizens have, it is a privilege. A privilege to have a voice and to be allowed to freely and openly express that voice so that you can shape the way in which your country is governed. This privilege is not afforded to all global citizens, which is why it is imperative that we as Americans acknowledge and take advantage of the freedoms we are given. A simple way for all Americans to do this is by exercising their right to vote.
It is easy to find reasons not to vote: I’m not registered, I don’t know my polling place, I can’t get off of work, I don’t feel that any of the candidates accurately represent my values. All these may seem like valid reasons not to vote; however they are all easily solved.
If you are not registered to vote, there is still time to do so. Many states even offer same day registration so you can sign up the day of the election at your designated polling place. In other states, you can register by contacting your county board of elections and filling out the registration forms, this may take a little longer to process than same day registration, so be proactive and register soon to ensure you will be able to vote in November.
If you don’t know your polling place it’s actually quite easy to find, the NRA is sponsoring a website called triggerthevote.org that will link you to your selected state's polling place lookup. If going on the NRA website scares you, a simple Google search will do the same.
Due to the fact that voting is the right of all American citizens, most states have laws that require employers to provide time for employees to cast their ballots, in some states this time may even be paid.
Lastly, if you feel that none of the candidates reflect your values and beliefs, there is an option to write in a candidate who may not be on the ballot but who you feel would do a good job leading our nation.
Being an American citizen affords you many freedoms and liberties. These freedoms and liberties are protected by the decisions our elected officials make. Voting is a fundamental right of the American people. Who you vote for is much less important than fulfilling your role in the American democratic process.
