Will you vote?

I want to impress upon anyone who is reading this just how important it is to vote. I want these words to make a difference. I hope anyone who was […] The post Will you vote? appeared first on Indianapolis Recorder.

Will you vote?

I want to impress upon anyone who is reading this just how important it is to vote. I want these words to make a difference. I hope anyone who was considering sitting on the sidelines decides to get up and vote this year.

I envision lines at the polls every day leading up to Election Day filled with people enthusiastic about casting their ballots.

With so many pivotal issues on the table, sitting out just seems like the last choice any citizen would want to make. But I don’t know that any combination of words and phrases could effectively convince someone to vote.

The feeling that voting does not matter is understandable. Every election cycle, the candidates make promises and once the political seats are filled, many of those promises are quickly forgotten.

The hope that voters placed in the candidates is too often dashed.

People who once believed that someone, anyone, would have their best interests in mind become disillusioned over time. From one election year to another, if nothing in your life has changed, it’s no wonder that you might feel like voting does not matter.

As the cost of living rises and the pay rate stays the same, it can be hard to believe that casting a vote will make a difference. How could checking a box on a piece of paper affect the rent that’s due each month?

I have been in conversations with people who don’t vote because they feel like their lives are not improved no matter who is in office.

I agree that it’s more challenging to see the changes in the moment. Some of the most significant changes have occurred over generations.

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When this country began, only property-owning white males had voting rights. This means only the wealthiest, most affluent people of the time could vote. Essentially, the elites were making the decisions for everyone.

For those who feel like their vote does not count now, there is a clear difference between feeling like your vote does not matter and not being able to vote at all.

I can only imagine what it must have felt like to see injustices happening in the country I lived in and not even being allowed to cast a ballot.

I imagine that it must have felt helpless and hopeless. I imagine people felt ignored, unheard and disposable.

There are people who still feel that way now which may be why Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country. This means most of the Hoosiers who are registered to vote are opting out.

“In 2012, Indiana ranked 36th in voting turnout, and in 2020, the state’s rank fell to 46th. Indiana’s ranking for voter registration is consistently in the bottom half of all states,” according to the Civic Health Index published by the Indiana Bar Foundation.

Of course, it would feel pointless to get in the battle when you think there is no way to win. On the other hand, there is no way to win if you’re not in the battle.

When the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was implemented, this was the final step needed to allow people of all races and genders to vote freely.

I did the math; It was 59 years ago. Just 59 years.

In 1965, “The Sound of Music” was the most popular movie. The Four Tops, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were some of the top musical acts of the year. The Chevrolet Impala was the year’s most popular car. I’m guessing you could still sing at least some of the lyrics to a Rolling Stones song. 1965 is not ancient history. It was, like, yesterday.

Each citizen having the right to vote is relatively new and, like a baby learning to walk, new things are fragile.

Further, when it comes to having rights, if they can be given, they can be taken away. We cannot take for granted that the rights we hold today will be the rights we hold tomorrow.

Yes, times are hard. They could be harder. They could also be easier. There could even be people in office who represent your interests, but they will not get there without your vote.

Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at camikej@indyrecorder.com or 317-762-7850.

The post Will you vote? appeared first on Indianapolis Recorder.