What I mean is, that I know quite a few people who are in agreement with me politically, but they don’t vote. If all of these people actually exercised their right to vote, they could tip the balance of an election.

The reasons these people (my own friends, relatives, co-workers, and acquaintences) give for not voting are usually one of these:

1. My single vote doesn’t count.

2. I’m too busy, and voting is inconvenient.

3. I forgot to vote (or register).

Maybe one single vote won’t make a difference, but if ALL , or at leat most, of the non-voters did vote, the entirety of an election could swing the other direction. It only takes a small percentage to change the outcome of a close election. All you have to do is look at the 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

For those folks who say voting is inconvenient, you have the option (in most states) to vote by mail. I’ve been doing that for over 20 years. Voting by mail gives you the ability to take your time, and sit in the privacy of your own home, to cast your ballot. Not registered? You can register online, at the DMV, and when you renew your license and registration, and there are always people registering voters outside of grocery stores and other places, during the time leading up to an election. There are organizations that will provide transportation, if you feel the need to vote at an actual polling place. Most people have friends, relatives, or neighbors who would gladly drive these folks to their polling place.

For the folks who manage to forget to vote, year after year, there are calendars, PSAs on TV, alarms can be set on your phone, there are Post-it notes, and dry erase boards, and all sorts of other ways to remind oneself to vote. It works the same way these folks remind themselves to get to their doctor appointments, or to get up and go to work, or to run down to the bank to deposit their tax refund checks.

What, if anything, have you done to try to assist, or convince people of the importance of voting?

Topics: voting, apathy, civic duty, rights and responsibilities, making a difference in an election