It wasn’t until 1870 that the fifteenth amendment of the constitution was implemented allowing black males to vote. It wasn’t until 1920, that the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote. Looking back on those accomplishments as a nation gives many a sense of hope. I believe those were great years in the history of the United States of America, however to ignore the hardships that still followed those important days in history is to ignore the complete truth of this nation.

It wasn’t until 1965 that the Voting Rights Act was passed granting the majority of black males in the south the right to vote. To pretend the Grandfather Clause didn’t hinder many black males from voting due to illiteracy, poll taxes and many other tactics, is to ignore the whole truth of this country. To ignore the fact that until 1984 not all 50 states even ratified the 19th amendment allowing women to vote, is to ignore the whole truth of this country. Basically the message that I’m trying to convey is that it has been a difficult and ugly fight for the nation to get where it is now concerning voting.

Fast forward to 2016 where this election year is one of the most interesting, bizarre, confusing, divided election years in American history. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t hear people debating over who the next president should be, or why they aren’t voting for Trump or Clinton. While a lot of people pretty much have their minds made up as to who they will be voting for on November 8th, there are many who are still undecided and aren’t even sure if they should vote. This really makes me think. If a person has no preference for any of the candidates for this election and decide not to vote, are they not fulfilling their duties as Americans who have the freedom to vote?

Many say that for a person to not vote when many people, black, white, hispanic, asian, male, and female have fought for those rights to be granted to us today is wrong. However, I feel that a lot of us are missing the point between having the right to vote and it being our duty to vote. Stay with me here, as I am not saying that it’s okay to be uneducated on candidates and what is going on and the country and just not vote. On the contrary, there are many well-informed, educated, mature citizens who are up to date on the issues, have researched all of the candidates, and yet they still feel as though none of the candidates are a good choice as president. People who choose not to vote are quickly labeled as lazy, uninvolved, careless, and ungrateful. I believe that if a person chooses not to vote they are not necessarily doing a poor job as an American.

If it is their right to vote, does that mean they have to? As a citizen we also have the right to bear Arms and petition the government. If a person chooses to not own guns or petition the government are they not fulfilling their duties as Americans? No, correct? They are not morally obligated to have a semi-automatic gun just because the constitution says they have the right to do so. So why is it that people who have no preference for any of the candidates in the election and decide not to vote are quickly condemned for choosing not to exercise their right to vote?

People often ridicule non-voters because as we have all heard before, “if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.” Many people have the mentality that not voting is synonymous to being uninvolved. If that were the case, I would agree with the statement “if you don’t vote you have no right to complain.” If you aren’t involved in any form of working to reform our nation, then yes I believe you have no right to complain. But, there are many other methods to being involved other than just voting. As a matter of fact, some of them are listed in our constitution.

I’ll end with this. If you choose not to vote in November, please don’t let it end there. I respect your views and opinions and understand where many are coming from. However, put in the effort to be involved in some other form. Whether it be starting up conversations in your community, or praying for your political leaders, please do something. And for those who are quick to persecute those who choose not to vote, please understand that having the right to do something and it being your duty to do something is completely different.