On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was officially ratified by Tennessee, finally reaching the agreement of three-fourths of states needed to add the proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution. After decades of tireless protesting and petitioning, the fight against sex discrimination at the polls had ended, acting as a catalyst for the further advancement of women's rights across the nation.
When I stepped foot into the voting poll for the first time yesterday, I couldn't help but be reminded of the struggle that thousands of women had faced before me a century ago. They weren't just fighting against discrimination for the benefit of their own future, but for the future of women like me. Women eager to use their voice, their privilege as Americans, to further democracy for every marginalized and oppressed population of people.
As excited as I was to vote for the first time, a part of me felt discouraged at the demographic of people in the waiting room around me. I was noticeably the youngest person waiting to vote, the average person in the room being around 50 years old. Some could argue that the majority of young people participated in mail-in voting or early voting this year, but the truth is that the voter turnout for those under 30 has always been alarmingly low in the U.S. According to Forbes, "In U.S. presidential elections, about 70 percent of voters 60 and up have turned out — which is nearly three times the rate of Americans between 18 and 29."
The reality is that our generation holds more power than we realize.
When we choose not to exercise our civic duties, we are ultimately saying that the freedom we have in this country holds no true value. When we choose not to vote, we are taking for granted a right (that we are NOT entitled to) that people risked their lives to obtain.
Our generation is one of the most outspoken in society today but has failed in this sector for years — and it's not news to anyone.
Maybe it's the pre-law political science student in me, but voting matters. As small as your vote may seem in the bigger picture, your vote is an illustration of the progress our country has made. Your vote is a thank you to the people before you who had no say in their future and is an element of democracy that people fight for every day. That fight being a chance for ALL voices to be heard, acknowledged and valued.
