Exercise Your Right to Vote and Have Your Voice Heard

It’s here at last. After months and months of speeches, debates, commercials, and an endless stream of Facebook and Twitter posts, we’ve reached election day. And that means every registered voter in the USA has an opportunity to exercise the right to vote and have their voice heard.

Millions of Americans have already early or absentee voted and millions more will head to the polls today.

Predictions are that we will see the largest voter turnout ever for this election. Never before in my lifetime can I remember an election that has created such strong political views from the general public.

 

Exercise Your Right to Vote

I’ll take this opportunity to make an obligatory push. If you are a registered voter, get out and exercise your right to vote for whichever candidate you prefer. If you don’t vote, you don’t have any business complaining about the outcome.

And that’s the great thing about a democracy. We are free to speak up and voice our concerns and to exercise our right to vote for the candidate that we feel will best represent us on those issues that matter most.

As for my political leanings, I am independent and tend more toward the view of less government, clear regulation where necessary, and protection of free expression. I generally believe people should be free to do and say what they want as long as it doesn’t infringe on others’ rights.

But just because this is what I believe doesn’t mean that others need to share that belief. Each of us has specific issues that are more important to us than other issues.

 

Look at the Bright Side

As much of a struggle as it has been, my hope is that we can find something positive to cling to coming out of this election. Once the election is settled and we sift through the rubble, maybe we will take a minute to realize that having different points of view isn’t a bad thing.

The messy side of a democracy is that we get situations such as this election with name calling and character attacks. But this messiness does paint an underlying picture of concerns and frustrations that many people feel aren’t being heard let alone addressed.

Whoever wins this election will have their hands full managing the escalation of conflict around the world, fighting the ongoing terrorist threats, and dealing with a significant rise in racial and social tensions. And whatever their policy views, the role of the President of the United States is a leader. Whoever wins must not forget this.

As crazy and frustrating as this election has been, I am proud to have been a part of it. And I’m excited about moving forward in a positive direction no matter what the outcome.

Don’t take your freedom for granted. Exercise your right to vote and have your voice heard.

 

Readers, if you’re a USA citizen, did you exercise your right to vote? If not, why not?

 

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