Nov. 1, 2020
The 2020 presidential election may very well be the most important one yet. It stands out from prior elections because Zoomers, those who are 18-23 years old, comprise one-in-ten eligible voters. This is also a particularly divisive election because the presidential candidates are essentially opposites. Lastly, the pandemic, civil unrest and a recession have reminded Americans how much is at stake. As Election Day nears, it is crucial that eligible voters cast their ballots.
The United States would not exist had it not been for the colonists who rebelled against taxation without representation. They were not complacent, and they did not believe a king overseas should have the right to make decisions affecting their lives. They wanted a voice.
Women would not have been allowed to open a credit card or own a home had it not been for the suffragists who went on hunger strikes to gain the right to vote. Until 1948, women were not allowed to serve as permanent members of the military. Women faced rampant sexual harassment at work, were fired for being pregnant and were excluded from getting an Ivy League education. None of this could have changed had it not been for the ratification of the 19th Amendment 100 years ago that granted women the right to vote. They needed a voice.
African Americans would not have been allowed to own land or attend integrated schools without the right to vote, which they attained through the 15th Amendment. They would not have been allowed to use the same bathrooms or drink from the same water fountains. They would not have been allowed to have the same jobs as non-black people or eat at the same restaurants. They needed a voice.
None of this could have changed had it not been for the ratification of the 19th Amendment 100 years ago that granted women the right to vote.
Without voting, there would be no democracy or representative government. Some see voting in elections as too political, so they simply choose not to vote. Others believe their vote will not make a difference. This thinking is flawed. Every vote matters, and every voice matters.
While voting is not mandatory, it is a civic duty and the responsibility that accompanies citizenship. If people do not stand up for their interests, no one will. Systemic racism, immigration, the environment, civil unrest and paying for college are just some of the critical issues that affect Gen Z and motivate them to be politically engaged. However, these social, political and economic issues do not just impact Zoomers. They touch the lives of almost every eligible voter, and every one of these people has an opinion that needs to be represented by a vote.
EDITORIAL CARTOON BY ANDREW PALMA
While voting is necessary, democracy in the United States is not perfect. In part due to the nature of a two-party system, the political climate in the United States has become highly toxic. It is easy to feel that it is no longer possible to have a conversation about hot button issues without it quickly escalating into an argument. It is common for people to avoid discussing their political opinions for fear of encountering hostility and disdain.
The divisive nature of modern politics may be jarring, but it is necessary to remember that the only way to make positive change is by voting. Women did not simply gain the right to vote by staying at home, and African Americans did not gain their right to vote by watching the world pass them by. They fought hard, were met with death threats, were killed, maimed, discriminated against and ridiculed until they finally got the right they deserved.
2020 is a big year, and there is a lot at stake. The right to vote is precious, and those who are eligible to vote should do so.
