YOUR Vote Matters
Welcome to 2020! A year that many will not forget. Starting with the death of the basketball player Kobe Bryant and the Coronavirus pandemic starring front stage, the year will conclude with a presidential election. Elections and the power of voting will impact our daily lives and relationships with citizens. So let’s talk about voting. There are political parties, an Electoral College, and you!
In the year of the presidential election, candidates will hold rallies, debates, make slogans, and choose whether they are a democrat, republican, or an independent candidate. The two political parties talk about the same issues but have different views on them. Republicans are typically more old-fashioned and see things from an older perspective. Democrats are usually for modern-day ideas and keep up with the newer generation’s wants and needs.
The presidential election always takes place on the first Tuesday of November. Ballots are usually calculated by a computer and that’s how people cast their votes. There is a machine in the voting polls which will state the candidates in your state. Voting can also be done on paper and is known as usually known as an abstinence ballot. The coronavirus has forced most of the country to make voting systems all done by paper and mail.
Voting is a secret between yourself and the computer. Sharing your political opinion is your choice. You are not required to share who you side with. In today’s society, people are very vocal about who they support whether it is with a flag, sign, or an Instagram post. Feeling insecure or embarrassed about your political views should never be the reason you do not vote.
National Geographic states “Get out and talk to people. Even if you cannot vote, you can still voice opinions on social media, in your school newspaper, or other public forums. You never know who might be listening”. Many believe that being under 18 makes your opinion insignificant but there are so many benefits. Voicing your opinion can lead to further opportunities that can help you later in life. Without directly saying who you vote for is always respected.
Researching ballots and exploring your limits is a significant process for a young adult starting to vote. Talk to your parents, talk to your neighbors, or set up a meeting with your town’s mayor. Some states allow you to submit a voter’s registration at 16 or 17. Registering to vote is something that could easily be done. At 16 years old, you will begin to drive. You can offer your driving service to people who cannot take themselves to a voting poll. People who are older or have disabilities might not be able to find transportation to a voting poll. The more people at the voting poll means more people are expressing their opinions. Check out https://www.commonsensemedia.org/young-voters-guide-to-social-media-and-the-news to find some ways to use social media to vote!
The Electoral College is a required number of presidential electors made up to determine the president and vice president. The Electoral College consists of several representatives from each state.. The electoral votes are determined by the census of the state. Each state gets at least three votes.. After three votes, the rest are calculated by the census and population of every state. Click This Link to learn more about the electoral college. Wyoming is physically larger than New Jersey but NJ has more electoral votes because our population is larger. The presidential candidate who gets to 270 electoral votes first will win the election.
The winner of the 2020 election as of November 22, 2020, is Democrat Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. . The coronavirus has encouraged citizens to vote all over the media. According to Town and Country, “number of voters brings us to a 66.8% turnout rate”(Goldsmith) The voting rate is the highest it has been since the 70’s! Being stuck at home, watching television, and scrolling on social media affects your decisions. Voting should be something that an American should take pride in whether you are voting for your town, state, or nation.
