Photo / Will H McMahan
You can make excuses not to vote -- I’ve heard them all. Said a few myself.
You’re too busy. You’re not sure if you’re eligible. You don’t know how to register. Your vote won’t make a difference.
Why bother, all politicians are alike. It’s too hard to fight all the injustice.
In my many years on this planet, I’ve learned most excuses are bullshit.
The Junior Newtown Action Alliance – an advocacy group led by students in Newtown. Follow them on twitter: @Junior_NAA
22×20 -- a national initiative recognizing that by 2020, 22 million teenagers will have turned 18. They want to be informed and ready. Go to: https://www.22x20.org/
You’re still disheartened. I get it. I can be, too.
To combat my apathy, I remind myself that fighting for change takes guts, courage, and time.
I remind myself that voting is a privilege earned for me by a centuries long list of activists who endured incarceration, starvation, police beatings, dog-attacks, being shot, and watching their classmates be shot.
They endured all this so we could tick a small box on a ballot and have our voices heard.
On behalf of the next generation, I make this plea: honor the Americans who fought, and continue to fight, for our right to vote.
If you’re still not convinced why you should register now and then vote on November 6th, I give you the words of Edmund Burke – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
You can make excuses not to vote -- I’ve heard them all. Said a few myself.
You’re too busy. You’re not sure if you’re eligible. You don’t know how to register. Your vote won’t make a difference.
Why bother, all politicians are alike. It’s too hard to fight all the injustice.
In my many years on this planet, I’ve learned most excuses are bullshit.
- Too busy? Many states have mail-in ballots. Fill the ballot out over a soda and pizza.
- No mail in ballot? Create an event in your social media feed and invite your friends and neighbors. Carpool to the polls on Election Day – make it a tailgate-voter party.
- Attending college away from home? Ask for an absentee ballot from your local election facility. Now.
- Not sure if you’re eligible? Here are the only requirements to vote in a US election:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be 18 years old (to vote this year, you must be 18 years old by Nov 6)
- Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election
- Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction
- Not claim the right to vote elsewhere
- Don’t know how to register? Go here: https://vote.gov/
- Think your vote won’t make a difference? An election in Virginia in 2017 was a tie. The winner was decided by a coin toss. Believe me, every vote is important.
- Think all politicians are alike? Then run for office yourself. Go here: https://www.runforoffice.org/
- Concerned about voter suppression or problems in your area? Go here: https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights
- Too hard to fight all the injustice? Yeah, alone it is. What you need is support. To be inspired, check out these young activists:
The Junior Newtown Action Alliance – an advocacy group led by students in Newtown. Follow them on twitter: @Junior_NAA
22×20 -- a national initiative recognizing that by 2020, 22 million teenagers will have turned 18. They want to be informed and ready. Go to: https://www.22x20.org/
You’re still disheartened. I get it. I can be, too.
To combat my apathy, I remind myself that fighting for change takes guts, courage, and time.
I remind myself that voting is a privilege earned for me by a centuries long list of activists who endured incarceration, starvation, police beatings, dog-attacks, being shot, and watching their classmates be shot.
They endured all this so we could tick a small box on a ballot and have our voices heard.
On behalf of the next generation, I make this plea: honor the Americans who fought, and continue to fight, for our right to vote.
If you’re still not convinced why you should register now and then vote on November 6th, I give you the words of Edmund Burke – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
