The right to vote in a free election is the most important right of every citizen. It is the one true freedom that separates a democratic nation from a totalitarian rule. It is the purest form of democracy.
Today the American people get to decide what form of government they want for not only the next four years, but for the future of this great nation.
Always remember that the decisions we make as a nation will influence all things that proceed it.
Though the act of voting is free and requires very little time and sacrifice, sadly, very few Americans bother to vote. Many believe that one vote either way will little to no effect on the outcome of any given election. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every vote is counted and many elections are decided by small margins. When a group of citizens choose to exercise their right to vote, in a circumstance when they generally wouldn't bother, their collective numbers could very easily change the result.
Besides as they always say, "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the outcome and the ramifications of that outcome."
Here is a excerpt from an article from the National Geographic Society:
If you ever think that just one vote in a sea of millions cannot make much of a difference, consider some of the closest elections in U.S. history.
In 2000, Al Gore narrowly lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush. The election came down to a recount in Florida, where Bush had won the popular vote by such a small margin that it triggered an automatic recount and a Supreme Court case (Bush v. Gore). In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state, or 537 votes. Had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that November, there may have been an entirely different president from 2000–2008.
More recently, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 by securing a close Electoral College win. Although the election did not come down to a handful of votes in one state, Trump’s votes in the Electoral College decided a tight race. Clinton had won the national popular vote by nearly three million votes, but the concentration of Trump voters in key districts in “swing” states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan helped seal enough electoral votes to win the presidency.
Your vote may not directly elect the president, but if your vote joins enough others in your voting district or county, your vote undoubtedly matters when it comes to electoral results. Most states have a “winner take all” system where the popular vote winner gets the state’s electoral votes. There are also local and state elections to consider. While presidential or other national elections usually get a significant voter turnout, local elections are typically decided by a much smaller group of voters.
A Portland State University study found that fewer than 15 percent of eligible voters were turning out to vote for mayors, council members, and other local offices. Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful. Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights.
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