This mini-rant was spurred on by a comment left at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity…
For the last 20 months, we’ve been inundated with political messages attacking and supporting the candidates for President offered up by one of the two major political parties. All the news coverage has led us to believe that we’re going out today to decide who will be the next President of the United States. And, because of that, some people in strongly red or blue states are staying home because they believe their vote won’t matter. While they may be correct that their single vote won’t change the outcome of the Presidental election for their state, there are many state and local-level issues on these ballots as well.
For instance, in the state of Illinois there is an issue on the ballot asking whether the voters think we should call a Constitution Convention to revisit and revise our state’s constitution for the first time in 38 years. If an Illinois voter stayed home because he was sure Obama would carry the state, he would have missed the opportunity to vote on this very important issue that has the potential to dramatically affect every individual and company in Illinois. That is just one illustration out of hundreds of potential state and local-level issues that will also be decided today.
I have seen local-level issues in the past decided by a single vote. Out of a district of thousands of potential voters, only 83 voted on the specific issue – and it ended up raising everyone’s taxes! So if you think your vote doesn’t matter, that you’re just one vote out of millions, suddenly that one vote is more important when it’s out of hundreds or even tens.
So please, go out and vote today if you’re registered. Your vote certainly does matter. Don’t let someone else take control over your life just because you couldn’t be bothered to stand and wait in a line for a little while.
