It’s that time again. Every four years, as the first Tuesday of November gets increasingly closer, our country ends up in an extremely polarized state. You’re either with us or against us.

And all of a sudden, your decision of who to vote for may be increasingly unclear-or conversely, clearer than before. Either way, it is important that if given the opportunity, we should vote.

Since the mid-1800s, the start of the now seemingly cemented two-party-system, the political giants have grown further and further apart. Instead of a joint effort forward, their radically opposing ideas have led to races to “secure spots” and “win” the government, as the majority seems to rule our laws, policies, and rights, in a stiff control.

With such varying values, several organizations have risen to take a political stand, and are a key factor in gathering support for candidates, especially from voters outside of their target demographics.

For example, on July 25, Answer the Call: 2024 organized a call on Zoom, bringing 164,000 women—a Zoom attendance record—together to support then Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. This call was historic, especially considering the majority of white women—53% according to the New York Times—have voted for the other presidential candidate, Donald Trump, in the past elections.

Events like these are gaining traction, cementing the idea that who you have voted for in the past does not have to influence your votes in the future, especially in the upcoming presidential election.

People are taking a stand for whatever they may believe in, even if it goes against the precedent set by their respective parties. This unique situation also allows the parties to take unconventional routes to gain votes. The organizations gathered in support of Harris are largely centered around policy while organizations for Trump are centered around the candidate himself.

As expected, the candidates themselves have dramatically different plans for the future. Critical policies are up for grabs, and they have the power to shift our everyday lives drastically.

Harris’s main issues are creating an “opportunity economy,” safeguarding reproductive rights, strengthening the justice system, and enacting common sense gun laws. Trump’s plans include “rebuilding the greatest economy in history,” “unleashing energy dominance,” “securing the border,” and “war on drug cartels.

No matter what their policies may be, whoever wins the presidential election on November 5 will change the course of history in a completely different direction than their opponent.

Multitudes of issues such as reproductive rights, economic policy, gun control, and the climate crisis hang in the balance in this election. Without letting our votes be heard, these issues will be decided without our input. There is no room for voter apathy in this election.

While we now have the opportunity to vote, many of us were just recently given the chance to let our voices be heard in this nation. Though it might seem like a distant past, many American citizens were left out of our democracy until civil rights leaders called for change.

After more than a century of the women’s suffrage movement, women were finally able to vote in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Voting discrimination against people of color was only outlawed in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act.

That means women have only been voting for 26 election years. People of color were only allowed to vote safely for the past 14 election years.

Countless people devoted their lives to obtaining these voting rights for us and it is imperative that we not only honor that courage but show up to the polls and make a difference. People have fought for us to have a choice in our democracy and the only way to enforce those rights is to vote.

Even if you don’t love either candidate, have different views than your peers, or are still feeling undecided, it is important that we cast our vote in the presidential election. Though we have the option, not voting is giving up the most important civic liberty we have to influence the course of our country.

According to Tufts University, there will be 8.3 million new eligible young voters since the midterm elections in 2024. For reference, Joe Biden won the popular vote in 2020 by 7,060,347 votes.

Though the popular vote does not determine the outcome of the election, a number that large could very plausibly tip the election in one way or another. Just a few individual votes could sway the electoral vote total and determine who is the next president of the United States.

But the only way to make your voice heard is to vote.

So vote. For our future and for our past, let your voice be heard.

Sources:

• kamalaharris.com
• donaldjtrump.com
• nytimes.com
• usa.gov
• archives.gov