Election years are ridiculous years in the United States, full of politicking and partisanship, pessimism and petulance. But on a personal level, election years have always been exciting for me. Because politics aside, voting on Election Day is a quintessential part of the American experience. It’s our chance as citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.
A democracy is a precious and fragile institution; and the fact that we live in a nation where the vote is a constitutionally enshrined right is an incredible blessing. There are countless numbers of people, all around the world, who would die for the chance to vote, and countless more who have already given their lives for the hope of democracy.
One of my earliest memories of democracy in action was the time I tagged along with my father when he went to vote, I must’ve been five or six. We went together that bright Tuesday morning up to my old kindergarten and got in line. We may have waited for a while, but I was so excited to be there the wait seemed to fly by. When my dad disappeared into that booth, I felt powerful, because I knew that I’d be standing in his place some day.
To vote is to invest in the future, to make a judgment call for your community and your country, to choose what’s best for our collective future. It is a right, but moreover it is a responsibility.
I have been waiting for the majority of my life to cast a ballot, and this Tuesday I’ll finally realize that long held wish. We should all be so excited to vote; we should all feel empowered when we step into the voting booth.
So to my fellow Pepperdine students, happy voting!
