Voting Is Your Civic Duty

Written By: Haley Smith
October 16th 2020

“Voting is your civic duty.” This sentiment is said pretty often, especially each November as Election Day approaches. But what does it really mean?

Today, most American citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in elections, but voting was not always a default right for all Americans. With constitutional amendments and legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the struggle for widespread voting rights evolved from the Founding Fathers’ era to the late 20th century.

If you believe that your single vote in a sea of millions can not make a difference, consider one of the closest elections in United States history. In 2000, Al Gore narrowly lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush. The election came down to a recount in Florida, where Bush had won the popular vote by such a small margin that it triggered an automatic recount and a Supreme Court case (Bush v. Gore). In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009% of the votes cast in the state (537 votes). Had 600 more Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida, there may have been an entirely different president at least from 2000–2004.

More recently, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 by securing a close Electoral College win. Although the election did not come down to a handful of votes in one state, Trump’s votes in the Electoral College decided the race. Clinton had won the national popular vote by nearly three million votes, but the concentration of Trump voters in key districts in “swing” states such Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan helped seal enough electoral votes to win the presidency.

Your vote may not directly elect the president, but if your vote joins enough others in your voting district or county, your vote undoubtedly matters when it comes to electoral results. Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights.

So you might be asking yourself now - how can I vote!?! To register to vote in Massachusetts, start your online registration on Massachusetts’s election website. You can also register to vote by mail or in person on Massachusetts’s election website. It is important to note that the online registration deadline in Massachusetts is October 24, 2020. You must be postmarked by October 24, 2020 if you register by mail and finally the deadline for in person registration is October 24, 2020. So clearly 10/24 is a HUGE day. To check your voter registration, look at Massachusetts’s election website.

General Election Day: November 3, 2020

Voting is one of the easiest ways you can voice your opinion in a democracy. It gives you a chance to choose your own leaders and make them accountable for your development. It's a hard earned privilege that everyone over the age of 18 should partake in.