“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter” – Barack Obama

As the 2024 Presidential Election draws nearer, voting is an extremely topical issue.  For many high school seniors, this will be the first time they are allowed to take part in the voting process.  As my own generation begins their first race to the polls, I think it is notable to talk about the importance of this process; not only for first-time voters or current voters but for future voters as well.

It is no secret that I am envious of those newly 18 years old as they will get to take part in this historic election. However, it feels very rare to see students, (especially those eligible) excited to cast a ballot. Honestly, this is quite baffling to me considering the road taken by activists to ensure this right to vote. The majority of people are familiar with the fact that the Constitution’s message “All men are created equal” was misleading at the time it was written. In the early days of our country, only white men who owned property were allowed to vote. It took decades before that metric was expanded to include people of different social classes, races, and genders in the voting pool.  The government went out of its way to not have people of different backgrounds come to the polls.

Slowly but surely larger groups were able to cast their ballots, but the road to the right to vote was not an easy one.  For the Black Community, the government put numerous roadblocks in place to prevent them from actually casting a ballot. During life in the  Jim Crow South, Black Americans were given literacy testing and forced to pay poll taxes. There was also a policy called “The Grandfather Clause” which stated that Black men were only able to cast their vote if they had proof that their fathers/grandfathers had voted before 1866 or 1867.  This was intentionally designed to prevent the Black Community from being a part of our government.  This furthered the already growing racial divide in our nation. It goes without saying that these policies were completely wrong and that they should have never been enacted in the first place.  However, this was not the end of the story. While the 15th Amendment(passed in 1869)  gave voting rights to all men regardless of race, Jim Crow Laws still made it very difficult for the Black  Community to actually vote.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made sure that voting discrimination was illegal.  Let’s not forget that this Act was passed more recently than you may think as it is only 58 years old. 58 years ago, voting discrimination was still legal in this country. It is truly astonishing to think that less than 6 decades ago it was legal to have voting discrimination based on race. Women also had to fight to vote, as they won their rights in 1919 with the passing of the 19th Amendment.  Women were seen as inferior to men which was a large factor contributing to their lack of voting rights. They believed that they deserved a seat in the political conversation which is why they began demanding it.

Living in the year 2024, it is hard to imagine a time when voting was just for the richest and most elite members of society. Growing up in such a political household, I have often wished for the voting age to be lowered. I believe that I could make an informed vote and that my vote could help make the world a better place. However, with age, I’ve come to realize that the voting age should remain exactly where it is today. Many teenagers do not care about politics. I can think of many instances where I have heard numerous peers loudly remark on how they have little to no political opinions.  I do not expect everyone to care as deeply as I do, but I do think that people should make informed decisions before they cast their ballot.

Our country was in an entirely different climate four years ago the last time there was a presidential election.  We were in the middle of an increasingly dangerous pandemic, controlling all aspects of life through the country. We were coming off of a summer where change was in the air as Black Lives Matter protests occurred across the nation. People took this passion and showed up to vote(either from the comfort of their dining room tables or in person with masks and socially distanced from their fellow voters).  The younger generation showed up in large numbers to exercise their right to vote in one of the most important/controversial elections of modern politics.  We can only hope to achieve similar youth numbers this time around, but people need to show up.  My great-grandfather used to read the newspaper every single day cover to cover. He would repeatedly tell us all, “That it is  our world and we should care about it.” I think my Papa’s words are more relevant now than ever. For those who are 18, please vote in this election because as a nation we need your commitment. The only way we can grow as a nation is to use our voices to make sure democracy is upheld.  This is the country we are  inheriting and it is up to us to make it one we want our children to grow up in the future.

I think that it is disrespectful to sit out of an election, especially considering all of the hardships endured and sacrifices made just to have their right to vote. If you can cast your ballot this Tuesday, I implore you to follow through with this process. You are not only voting on behalf of yourself but voting on behalf of the future you want to see and those unable to vote right now deserve it.  We all deserve to grow up in a society we are proud of and voting is the way to most directly impact the world we live in. We are lucky to live in a country where voting is such a large part of our culture. In 2015 when the musical Hamilton took Broadway by storm, we were also on the verge of a crucial election. The 2016 Presidential election was around the corner and as a nation, we had no idea what was in store.  Towards the end of the first act, General George Washington sings a song entitled “History Has Its Eyes On You” in which he prompts the titular Alexander Hamilton to think deeply about his actions as in the end history will be the one assessing his story. History truly has its eyes on us all as this election approaches. Only time will tell which light this time period will be remembered.  I guess the choice rests in your vote…