Run to Your Designated Precinct and Vote
by Phyllis Boykin, Contributing Writer 11/02/2018
The current political climate can become overwhelming and/or underwhelming depending upon your perspectives. With the 2018 Early Voting sessions underway and the November 6th Election Day just six days away, it is almost impossible to avoid taking notice of all that is occurring at the local, state, national, and international levels as candidates make last ditch efforts to persuade voters to “try seeing things their way”, even when “seeing it their way” may or may not be in our best interests.
Whether or not you and your eligible family members have cast your votes at the ballot boxes, or you plan to wait until Election Day to vote, you know by now that not voting has all sorts of known and unknown consequences that definitely will make a world of difference in all our lives in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. Whether you vote or do not vote leads to outcomes that can work for your betterment or to one’s own disadvantage.
Thus, it is wonderful to envision that as you read this article that you are feeling very proud that you did your due diligence as an American citizen by already casting your ballot within the appropriate time frame for Early Voting, (Wednesday, October 17th thru Saturday, November 3rd), which equates to making your desires and expectations known, regardless of the final results as determined at the ballot box.
If you prefer to wait until the last day of Early Voting, Saturday, November 3, 2018, or adhere to the more “traditional” method of voting on Election Day, that is commendable as well – just as long as you vote! That is the only way you count, so always take advantage of that blessing and privilege. Let nothing and no one deny you that opportunity for which precious blood has been shed.
For conducting your civic duties, on behalf of those who actually died without the opportunities to ever vote simply because of their race, creed, color, age, gender, or citizenship status, you deserve a tremendous round-of-applause for exercising your Rights as an American citizen, on behalf of yourself, your family and other citizens of our country.
As we explore reasons behind why some qualified citizens do not vote and the determination behind why millions of citizens take the time to vote, we know the reasons for voting far out-weigh the excuses for not voting. To drive that point home, there have been television, radio and social media commercials of Americans recorded live, while spontaneously explaining why they know it is important to vote.
Some reasons were very familiar and relate-able, and others foster new perspectives for serious consideration that expanded our minds beyond reasons we had not before pondered regarding the vital importance of voting. All of the reasons given are important to us individually and collectively. The voters’ looks of determination and embolden voices cast no doubts about their understanding of the importance of their reasons for voting. Their publicly voiced assertions give those who watch just a mere glimpse of a few of the hopes and dreams of our ancestors, who fought, lived through deplorable circumstances, situations and times, suffered, endured, tolerated, and often died for our opportunities to vote. We must not fail them, nor ourselves!
We can and should feel the strength of our beloved ancestors each time we cast our votes for various people and causes that have direct impacts on ourselves, on others and for those yet-to-be born. Vote and witness for yourself what I am referencing.
After you vote, go some place quiet and momentarily sit in solitude. If you go vote with others, make up an excuse to temporarily excuse yourself. Take the time to reflect upon having cast your ballot and how powerful you feel because you are, in fact, very powerful. Give thanks for what just happened and pause to absorb it all.
You may elect to sit in a room or an isolated stairwell just down the hall from the voting booths or sit in the restroom. Perhaps you prefer to sit in your car. Sit wherever you feel comfortable and let there be no room for doubt that you are one powerful soul among many for whom our ancestors fought and died for us to exercise our opportunities to vote. Although no longer physically occupying the same spaces, the spirits of our ancestors probably know in their absence, when we have voted on behalf of all of us, which must continue to foster our strong commitments to cast our ballots during this election and every election yet-to-come.
Carefully research the candidates whose ideas most closely resemble yours. Examine what they say they will and will not do, or determine “what have they done for you lately” in the case of incumbents.
Study the Ballot Amendments. Educate yourself regarding how your vote will impact your circumstances and livelihood. Make your decisions wisely and then, run on down to your designated precinct and vote! Vote like your life, like our lives, and like our ancestors’ sacrifices depend on it, because they do! You matter! We matter! Vote!
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