Jeeze, Julia!

♥

Today is the big day!

I’ve heard a couple of people say this year that they don’t want to vote because they don’t feel like anything changes from one election to the next. They say that everyone just gets all riled up around election time, but then once our new representatives and leaders are chosen, nothing feels different for them. The truth is, it takes a long time to make change. Thankfully, we live in a country that has checks and balances so decisions that are made at the top of the hierarchy are approved or denied by other branches of the government and so for us sometimes we can’t immediately feel the difference. Also, the fact that you don’t notice a change probably means that you’re in the majority seeing as a lot of the issues that are being raised in this election mainly effect minorities like the gay community and women’s rights. Incidentally, the two people who told me they didn’t notice a difference between elections were middle class white males – the only population who has had voting rights since our country’s birth. The rest of us had to fight for it.

So even if you don’t feel like this election’s results will effect you, know that they will. And, if you’re not going to vote for the outcome of your future, you should at least decide how you feel about others around you and cast a vote for them. The basic human rights for several populations are still on the table to be decided and you can help determine the outcome. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, our friends, and our families to do a little research and choose a candidate whose beliefs more closely align with our own. People literally died to give us that right.

My polls opened up at 8 am today and Ryan and I were there. Do a quick google search to find out where your community is voting and how long you have to get there, then brush up on the issues at hand. Bring your ID, and if you’re unregistered also bring proof of your physical address {a lease, or even an electric bill with your name on it}. In New Hampshire you can register to vote at the polls. I’m sure you already know how you feel about the issues of abortion, gay marriage, the environment, small business, etc., so find the candidate whose beliefs most similarly align with your own and give them your support. Without every person’s vote, our election will not have an accurate reading of the American citizens’ beliefs.

Be proud that you are American – vote.

xx.