Why Your Vote Matters

Written by Cheryl Kidder​

The right to vote has been fought over relentlessly in the history of America. Such advocates for suffrage include women and African Americans. The right to vote was even an issue before the United States won its independence; the non Puritan men of the colonies never had the right to vote. Though each group has its differences, the desire for this right has driven these people to strive to push the revelation. These people alike have fought for a right that millions of eligible Americans take for granted today. Polls show that, as the years go by, less and less people take the time to vote each and every year. If interpreted the right way, one may view this as a disgrace to the advocates for suffrage, and a waste of a good privilege. Practicing the right to vote matters, not only to be more involved with the nation, but to also honor the sacrifices many have made before us. The men and women before us fought just to create a future in which we live today. It is important to practice the rights that those before us have fought for. We must do so to honor them and their efforts, and we must do so for ourselves. 

Once, giving women the right to vote was a radical idea, preposterous. With such a notion being so ahead of its time, women like Abigail Adams struggled to enlighten society. Abigail Adams was a first lady of the United States, married to President John Adams. In her time, the only relation between politics and women was the woman’s influence over her husband. Adams was a strong advocate for women’s education, role in their married relationship, and women’s property rights. Some of her famous words were written in a letter for her husband, which included, “Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation.” Thanks to the efforts of many women like Abigail Adams, women’s suffrage was eventually achieved later in 1920. Similarly, many African American idols fought for the right to vote, and even achieved suffrage much sooner than women. They got the right to vote in 1870, through the ratification of the 15th amendment. One such African American idol who fought for black suffrage was famous Martin Luther King Jr. He lead countless marches, rallied at Bloody Sunday, rode with freedom riders, and sparked change with effects that ripple to this day. If it were not for such efforts in each group of activists (including both women and African Americans), the world would be a much more different place than it is today. We must honor their dedication by taking advantage of what they fought for. For such reasons, my vote, and every single vote in America matters. Thank you. 

Cheryl Kidder is a 19 year old writer and critical thinker from California. She's excited to be published on the Elysian Muse Youth Literary Magazine!