 | Your vote counts—even
in Utah I am standing right now in line to vote early. There are probably 150 people here, and the line snakes up and down the hallway. There are a dozen children and babies, some in strollers and slings, others running around, bored. There are middle aged people in their uniforms and suits, elderly people being helped along by canes, wheelchairs, and caregivers and businessmen asking for an “I voted” sticker. There are mothers consoling impatient children and retiree couples and more people pour off of the elevators, some leave after seeing the line; unaware it’s fast moving. I have to ask, though; Where are we, where are YOU? There were no other single college students that looked under 25. On Wednesday in the DU, several students were interviewed about whether they thought their vote counted. All of them expressed that they felt that their vote didn’t count because of the Electoral College, or that it didn’t matter because Utah’s predictable Republicanism. But these are excuses. YOUR vote does count, and it’s not an arduous or difficult process. Local Elections Matter- the presidential election is not the only election going on. Positions from governor to state senator, representative, and school board, and your vote matters in these elections, sometimes they are decided by a handful of votes. Even if you are only living in Utah County temporarily, shouldn’t you still try to elect the most honest, hardworking, and ethical representatives to set the tone for the Utah on Capitol Hill? Local and State figures have larger influence over our daily lives than one would think: State and local laws govern everything from morality and family issues, taxes and welfare spending, driving, education curricula and budget distribution. You are affected by all of these, and you are a constituent. If you don’t vote, you are not a constituent to whom the elected leader needs to be accountable. I’ve also heard individuals say that it’s too much of a hassle to physically go down and vote, and they don’t want to read up on all the candidates—for college students, it’s shameful we can’t jump on the internet and do a little research. Church leaders have expressed that it is our civic duty to participate in elections, to demonstrate that we have opinions and are part of something larger. Staying educated on the issues matters. Voting matters, not just because of who gets elected, but because of the freedom and privilege that the act of voting represents. |
