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Why Is It Important To Vote The Democracy Group

Leo Migdal
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why is it important to vote the democracy group

It’s easy to feel like your vote doesn’t matter. Between the noise of national headlines, the frustration with gridlocked politics, and the constant tug-of-war between extremes, many Americans have started to tune out. Maybe you’ve even caught yourself wondering, What’s the point? But here’s the truth: voting is still one of the most powerful tools you have to shape the world around you. It’s not just about choosing a president every four years. It’s about deciding who funds your schools, how your community is policed, what rights are protected—or taken away—and who gets a seat at the table when decisions are made.

And when you don’t vote? You’re giving that power away. To someone who may not share your values. To a system that assumes your silence means consent. In this article, we’re cutting through the noise and getting real about what voting actually does—how it protects your rights, amplifies your voice, and keeps democracy alive and evolving. You’ll hear from leading voices across the voting rights space—activists, scholars, and everyday citizens—who make a compelling case for why your vote isn’t just important…it’s essential.

Because the truth is: democracy only works if we do. And your voice? It matters more than you think. Among the biggest challenges in modern American elections is getting people to the polls. The reasons for voter apathy can vary, but their sentiments can be summed up in just a few comments from eligible voters who increasingly prefer to stay home on election day: “My vote doesn't matter, so why bother?”

There are many reasons for voter inaction. But the situation turns around when we honestly answer the question: “Why is it important to vote in elections?” In a democracy, every vote counts, and every voice matters. It’s not simply a matter of answering the question of “Why is it important to vote?” but explaining why voter turnout matters. The answer lies in the profound impact that voting has on our society, our government, and our future. Whether in a presidential election or a local school board race, voting is a fundamental right that allows citizens to shape the future of their country.

Sometimes, an election is determined by just a handful of votes. “Voting is your civic duty.” This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. But what does it really mean? And what does it mean for Americans in particular? Typically in the United States, national elections draw large numbers of voters compared to local elections. A History of Voting in the United StatesToday, most American citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in federal and state elections, but voting was not always a default right for...

The United States Constitution, as originally written, did not define specifically who could or could not vote—but it did establish how the new country would vote.Article 1 of the Constitution determined that members of... The president, however, would be elected not by direct vote, but rather by the Electoral College. The Electoral College assigns a number of representative votes per state, typically based on the state’s population. This indirect election method was seen as a balance between the popular vote and using a state’s representatives in Congress to elect a president.Because the Constitution did not specifically say who could vote, this... In most cases, landowning white men were eligible to vote, while white women, black people, and other disadvantaged groups of the time were excluded from voting (known as disenfranchisement). While no longer explicitly excluded, voter suppression is a problem in many parts of the country.

Some politicians try to win reelection by making it harder for certain populations and demographics to vote. These politicians may use strategies such as reducing polling locations in predominantly African American or Lantinx neighborhoods, or only having polling stations open during business hours, when many disenfranchised populations are working and unable... But even so, many would-be voters faced artificial hurdles like poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures meant to discourage them from exercising their voting right. This would continue until the 24th Amendment in 1964, which eliminated the poll tax, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended Jim Crow laws. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920, when the long efforts of the women’s suffrage movement resulted in the 19th Amendment.With these amendments removing the previous barriers to voting (particularly sex and... Later, in 1971, the American voting age was lowered to 18, building on the idea that if a person was old enough to serve their country in the military, they should be allowed to...

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...

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... 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... Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful.How You Can Make Your Voice HeardIf you are not yet 18,...

citizen, you can still participate in the election process. You may not be able to walk into a voting booth, but there are things you can do to get involved: 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. Understand the fundamental role of voting in a democracy, empowering citizens to actively shape their governance and uphold civic principles.

Voting stands as a foundational element within a democratic system, serving as a cornerstone of self-governance. It represents both a civic right and a responsibility, embodying the principle that power ultimately resides with the people. This act is fundamental to a society where citizens collectively determine their governance. Voting provides the primary avenue for individual citizens to articulate their preferences, values, and concerns. It allows diverse segments of the population to ensure their perspectives are heard and represented within government. Each ballot cast contributes to a collective voice that shapes the nation’s direction.

The expansion of voting rights throughout history underscores this principle. For instance, the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) expanded suffrage to African American men by prohibiting denial of the right to vote based on race. The Nineteenth Amendment (1920) extended suffrage to women. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971) lowered the voting age to 18. These constitutional amendments collectively demonstrate the ongoing effort to ensure that more voices contribute to the democratic process. The act of voting directly impacts the creation and implementation of laws, regulations, and government programs.

Elected officials, once in office, make decisions on issues such as education, healthcare, the economy, and the environment. These decisions reflect the mandate given by voters, connecting the ballot box to tangible policy outcomes that affect daily life. The 2024 election is in full swing and your social media accounts, news feeds, and mailboxes have likely been flooded with reminders to vote. And for good reason. There’s a lot at stake this year, with a presidential race, 33 U.S. Senate seats, and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives on the ballot.

Most states are also holding elections for critical state and local positions. However, the current political landscape has understandably left some individuals, especially young people and people of color, feeling exhausted, disenchanted, and frustrated. And recent research reveals that one of the top reasons people don’t vote is that many people feel there is not much voting can do to change the government. But, in spite of this frustration — or perhaps even because of it — there are actually many reasons why it’s critical that you vote in every election, every year. Here are just some of the reasons why voting is important. When you vote, you’re not just electing government officials.

You and your fellow voters are expressing your needs, preferences, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction as an electorate. Voting is the primary language of a democracy. It’s one of the main tools people have to communicate how they wish to be governed. Who voters decide to put in office reflects the issues they care about, their commitment to developing solutions for pressing societal problems, and how they would like their tax dollars spent. This is why voting is important in our democracy. American democracy is built upon the philosophy of the social contract.

Essentially, this means that individuals agree to follow the rules and laws that govern society in exchange for the protection of their rights. However, it’s important to note that while the social contract is the foundation American governance rests upon, it’s not a contract upon which every American has had equal opportunity to benefit. The level of protection offered has always depended on your race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender expression, religion, and sexual orientation. It is an unjust truth of American democracy that the social contract does not equally protect everyone. But, through voting, people can make their collective voice strong enough to force democracy to listen. By Michael Bilfinger, AACRAO Assistant Director of Public Policy

Democracy is a system of government in which the state draws its power and legitimacy from the consent of its citizens. There are many different variations of democracy, and the U.S. employs a representative democracy in which citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf as opposed to directly voting on issues, as some states do in referendum votes. While not technically part of the definition of democracy, certain institutions, such as the freedom of speech and press, are critical to a democracy's function because they directly support the citizen's ability to consent... For a democracy to be healthy and just, all members of society, both those in the majority and in the minority, must buy into this idea of citizenry consent and uphold these virtues. Voting in a democracy is critical because it is the most direct avenue that citizens can use to express consent, the basis for their government's legitimacy, and influence laws and priorities.

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