Your Voice Counts.

It seems like with every election you hear the same thing; that it’s the most important election of our generation. Weather it comes from P Diddy or some other public figure; you are constantly bombarded with slogans like “vote or die”. While I think this may be a little extreme, I will agree with Diddy that it’s a pretty important thing to exercise your privilege to vote.

Today while I was talking to a few people about voting, I was presented with an idea that really doesn’t sit right with me.

I’ve been told a few times that one vote doesn’t really matter, that one vote doesn’t make a difference. Do I see where these people are coming from? Yes. Do I agree? Not in any way, shape or form.

Of course, I gave them the standard answer “What if everybody felt that way?” But I have a feeling that answer wasn’t sufficient. So I came up with this one.

I am of the opinion that every American should use their privilege to vote. I think it is our duty to vote because it is a huge gift that not every person has. So to those people who say their vote doesn’t matter, I would like to share this picture.

By telling me that a vote doesn’t matter, you’re telling me that my father’s service to this country is pointless. You are saying that my brother serving to protect you isn’t worth anything. You are saying that every person who has ever died for this country has died in vain.

I say this because these people died for our freedom. They serve us so that we can have the ability to speak freely, to choose our religion, and to vote on who we put into office to make our laws.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that voting is a right. Americans have this terrible misconception which is exactly what leads to this apathetic attitude about voting. Let me say it again, voting is not a right, it is a privilege.

Don’t agree? Ask prisoners what happens when they are incarcerated. They don’t get the privilege there. I only say this to help you understand why I think it is so important.

It isn’t only that you should use this privilege, you should appreciate it. If someone says that their vote doesn’t matter, I don’t see how that person could claim to appreciate their freedom.

Now, I get that there are a lot of people who vote in an election. And when you are presented with the numbers it seems like your one vote doesn’t really count. I mean, is there really a difference between 210,090 and 210,089? I guess I can see a point in that.

I just see it differently. I find it so amazing that I am that one person. I am the person who makes it 210,090 instead of 210,089. I think it is so great that I have the ability to make that difference in those numbers. I am blessed to live in a country that allows me to make that difference.

It could be that I was always taught- if you don’t vote, you have no reason to complain about what the government does. You had your opportunity to change it, and you decided not to. Therefore, you should live with the consequences of your actions, and bite the bullet.

If you don’t vote, you run the risk of letting others put someone in office that wants to take away your ability to vote. I know, sounds like a bunch of conspiracy stuff. I only say this to make a point. It is only when your privilege is taken away that you truly appreciate it.

Perhaps you need to ask those serving you what happens to their vote? Do they get one? You would be surprised how often those serving our country don't get to vote. Just this month two states have denied our military the right to vote. Those who are stationed out of New York, does their vote count? Nope. Their absentee ballots weren't sent out in enough time. Don't you think their vote should count?

How about those brave men and women from Illinois? Nope. Their votes don't count either because their absentee ballots weren't sent out on time either. Sound like an honest mistake to you? Because it sounds like a pile of malarkey to me. Ask them if they think it is important for their votes to count. Because if anyone should have the privilege of voting, I think it's those who fight for us to have the ability to vote.

It is so frustrating to me when people tell me that my vote doesn’t matter. Because I really think it does. I think that it matters to show the Greatest Generation that they didn’t fight in World War II so that we could tell them it didn’t matter; that we really don’t appreciate them keeping our freedom safe so we could vote today. I think it's important to show those men and women fighting now that we appreciate what they do for us every day.

I hope you have read this and maybe gained some kind of incentive to vote. It is important and your vote does count. Things won’t just work out; you have the ability to change what happens in this country. And that is exactly what I did. I voted for those military men and women who didn't get their ballots. I voted to change what is happening in this country.

For more reading on those people who didn't receive their ballots click here and here.