Guest post written by Nate DeBaun, Attorney with The Schroeder Group, S.C., Attorneys at Law, and chair of the Waukesha County Business Alliance Young Professionals Committee.
WHY VOTE?
There are a number of reasons to cast your vote in the upcoming midterm election. For one, it’s one of the few times that the average American has a say in national politics. On the local level, sometimes small margins of votes decide a winner, and in many instances, these local elections have just as great an impact on a voter’s day to day life.
Another oft-cited reason to vote: you can’t complain about who got elected and what they end up doing if you didn’t vote (though some people will complain about it whether they voted or not).
Americans have been voting since the colonial days, albeit with various restrictions over the years. While many associate the right to vote with the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution originally left voting rights up to the individual states. Most states only allowed white, male property owners to vote at the time that the Constitution was adopted. Various constitutional amendments and laws passed over the years have expanded the right to vote to more and more citizens.
Voting took place through “voice votes” well into the 1800s, and then by ballot systems that weren’t entirely private. Individuals would choose a party’s ballot by a specific color of paper, and their vote was visible to all who saw them cast their vote. Only in the late 1800s did “secret ballot” voting become the norm.
America has come a long way with respect to voting rights. Over the years, restrictions on gender, creed, ethnicity, and societal status have been lifted, though some restrictions still exist (for example, limitations based upon age, a felony criminal record, or citizenship status).
According to statistics, U.S. citizens vote in smaller percentages than just about every other Western democracy or republic. Voter turnout, while highest during presidential elections, still usually only results in about half of the voter-eligible population turning out to vote. That percentage is far lower in mid-term elections such as this one.
So exercise your right as an American citizen and “Get Heard” on Tuesday, November 2nd!
————–
Side note from Carolyn:
We started a “Get Heard: VOTE!” campaign a few weeks ago, encouraging Young Professionals to get out and vote (in collaboration with YP Impact and FUEL Milwaukee)! That campaign will culminate with an “Election Day Shindig” on November 2 at Mo’s Irish Pub in Tosa. Starting at 4pm and going until the election results are in, we will be enjoying complimentary appetizers, live music from Kyle Feerick, and drink specials. Learn more about “Get Heard: VOTE!” and sign up to attend the (free) networking event for Young Professionals on November 2 HERE.
