Claudia Olson ’22 | Assistant Features Editor
Your vote matters
If you’re a current student at Smith, you’ve probably been told to vote. You may have seen students wearing t-shirts that have QR codes which, when scanned, take you to a voter registration page. You might be seeing posts on Instagram or Facebook from friends and family who encourage their followers to vote. Maybe you have watched a viral video of celebrities telling you to vote. You may have seen all of these things and still wonder if your single vote actually matters. Believe it or not, it does! You may not break the tie of an election, but it’s incredibly important to support candidates you care about through voting. Think of it this way: if everyone thought their single vote didn’t matter, no one would vote!
Your ability to vote may have been gained through struggle
In the first presidential election of the United States, only white men who owned property could vote. Women, people of color and people from low-income backgrounds had to fight for their right to vote over many decades of American history. If you identify as a member of one of those groups, voting is your right — one which others fought for and never received. To honor those who were oppressed, arrested and tortured in the fight for voting rights, you should use this right that they fought so hard for you to have.
Voting gives each individual American equal power
Continuing from my second point, voting is a right that promotes equality. No single vote is more important than another, regardless of the voter’s gender, race or income. As long as you are a United States citizen and you are at least 18 years old, you most likely have the chance to vote in this upcoming midterm election. You have the same power to promote certain candidates as I do and as any registered voter does. You can advocate on behalf of your rights and on behalf of the rights of people in your community. Whether it be LGBT rights, access to education or gun control, you can choose candidates you believe will address the issues that are the most relevant to your life and your community. You have a chance at making positive change for yourself and for those you care about.
Be a voice of our generation
We live in an era where young people have to actively advocate for issues that affect them or their needs will be swept under the rug. Voter retention is much higher among older generations than younger generations, which means legislation that benefits older people is more likely to be created. Issues that don’t affect older generations much but are incredibly important to the lives of young people may not be prioritized like the imminent threat of climate change, the Social Security benefits we will receive decades from now and funding for public education. As young Americans, we can speak up for what our generation needs and demand legislation that will impact us for years to come.
This election will have a huge impact, no matter what happens
Voting is always important, but the upcoming midterm election will be especially impactful. 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 seats in the Senate are currently up for grabs. Depending on the preferences of voters, Congress could continue to be led by the Republican party or it could be taken control of by the Democrats. No matter what party you are affiliated with or who you vote for, this is a big deal. The outcome of this election will determine what laws will be passed and who will decide the future of American government. So, if you’ve made it this far, I hope you are convinced that voting is essential. Please do what you can do make your voice heard in our government. VOTE!
