Voting in our nation’s elections is an important part of our civic engagement as American citizens. “Nearly 56% of the U.S. voting-age population casts ballots in the 2016 presidential election” (DeSilver). With a sum only a smidge over fifty percent of American citizens capable of voting, we are failing our government system as a whole by not participating in our civic responsibilities. Voting in our nations, states, counties, and even communities fulfills our duties in our part of the governmental system. The majority of our nation’s decisions, and rule making is influenced by us, the American people, through the process of voting. With most Americans failing to do so, we are not following through with our civic responsibilities to voice our personal opinions, this, not using our rights given to us by our government.
As citizens of the United States of America, it is our job to participate in our civic responsibilities any way possible to benefit the country as a whole. With citizens being given many responsibilities such as obeying laws, paying taxes, and serving on the jury; voting trumps the following in the importance to our government. It is our role as citizens to participate in the action of voting. Whether you’re voting on your opinion for a presidential candidate, voting for your school board, or voting at a local town hall meeting; your one vote matters. One vote might not seem like much or as if it does not matter but, your one vote makes a difference. It helps lead to the final outcome of what is being voted on. With voting, citizens are given the right to choose their nation’s, state’s, county’s, and community’s leaders. This helps determine the way those aspects are guided and shaped. The responsibility of voting gives us, as citizens, the opportunity of voicing ourselves in our nation's government.
Voting for our government’s representatives is a way the government lets it’s people have a voice. Through voting, our one vote can help determine who makes important decisions in their respective roles. The vote we cast in ballots voices our opinions in debates over political policies and law making in our nation. Voting for your political party voices your personal opinion on how you feel about a certain topic or policy or how you think the government should lead its people. Your vote does not mean that your beliefs and concerns will be put into action. It means the candidate you have voted for is voicing the same ideas as you, and you feel as if that candidate has the best opportunity to benefit the citizens the most. Voicing your opinion through voting is important by being able to let the government get a perspective of a citizens point of view from all social and financial backgrounds. The more citizens that vote for what they believe in and what they want to see done, the more influence they will have on the government system as a whole. Voicing your opinion through voting is a right most people disregard and take for granted. Most people do not realize the impact it has on our government's system.
The right to vote freely is a constitutional right given to us by the government. The right has not always been granted to all Americans, only caucasian males were granted the right to vote. In 1870, the fifteenth amendment was passed giving the right to all males of any race to vote. Years later in 1920, the nineteenth amendment was passed that all women were given the right to vote. In today's present society, all american citizens no matter the race or gender, as long as they are eighteen and registered, are given the right to vote. Voting is looked at as more of a privilege given to us the people. Given that we live in a democratic government system, the people have the right to vote freely how they would like. This is not most cases for some countries as they are ruled by dictators or in a communist state of government. Americans should look at voting as a privilege given to us, considering not all citizens have always been given this right and the fact our nation gives us this right in general.
Today's generation sees voting as somewhat useless and unimportant, but forgets the history behind this right given to us and the influence it has on our nation as a whole. Voting is beneficial in how our government runs by giving the citizens input. As a whole, voting is an engagement that all American citizens should participate in as we are given this opportunity to share our voice and be heard by the government.