Why Your Vote Matters

Politics can be a little rough to follow sometimes. No matter what your beliefs are, there is always some sort of nonsense happening down in Washington D.C. and our state capitals. Someone took too many bribes. Someone had an extramarital affair. Someone lied to their constituents. Whether you voted in your state’s primaries or not, we have a job to do come this November.

This November are the Midterm Elections.

Midterms is a terrifying term for every college student and doesn’t mean the same thing politically speaking, but you should still be pretty worried. No one likes the state of our politics. Midterms change that. We have the chance to remove local, state, and some national politicians that have done us, the American people, dirty.

Politicians that told voters there would be tax-breaks and then didn’t back it up. Politicians that rolled back measures helping you and your family. Everyone has some sort of beef with the government no matter who you are.

Think of the last time you heard someone say, “I think they’re doing great up there! Keep up the good work!” My last time hearing this was my grandparents. But not about anytime recently; nope, they just loved FDR, who served approximately eighty years ago. It seems like we have a job to do.

Every November, along with any election that rolls around, is inevitably those people who feel the need to tell you your vote doesn’t matter. That your voice, among the other millions turning out, is going to be lost.

So why vote?

Let’s look at the numbers:

Currently in the state of Kentucky, the polls for the congressional race between incumbent, Republican Andy Barr and newcomer, democrat Amy McGrath are staggeringly close. It’s so rare that Kentucky, a state not known for its indecisiveness politically, is making national news. So how close are they? Within a single point. Polls from the Siena College Poll, reported through the New York Times, shows that Barr is polling at 47% , McGrath at 46%, and only 7% of those polled stating they’re undecided.

Look at those numbers and tell me your vote doesn’t matter. Tell me that a simple difference of 33,000 (1% of the 3.3 million Kentuckians Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes reports have registered) people’s voice doesn’t sound like you and all the other people hearing the crap “why vote?” have maybe been lied to this whole time.

33,000 is all it takes to secure a win for Barr or a victory for McGrath; that’s about the same amount of people that go to the University of Kentucky. Theoretically, if everyone on our campus all voted for one candidate, we could easily swing the race.

I’m well aware that I’m not some sort of political analyst that has a strong background in this. I’m also not trying to push my personal agenda on you. But I am telling you about your civic duty.

We are American and we are blessed to have the opportunity to have our voices heard. We are blessed to live in a country where we have democracy and almost direct control over our politicians. We ARE the people and we cannot let our voices be silenced.

No matter what you believe, no matter who you hate, it’s our time to make a difference. Young people’s voices need to be heard: we will not have another midterm voter turnout of only 21% of 18 to 29 year olds (according to Non Profit Vote).

Go out and make a difference.

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