This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

How to be a Good Neighbor at Election Time; Why it's Important to Vote

Good neighbors/citizens vote. Here's a list of reasons why it's important to exercise your right.

Note: Today I give reasons why good neighbors vote. Join me next time for a list of ways to be a good and kind neighbor to our family, friends, and fellow citizens throughout the election season.

By Pam Marino

I spend a lot of time at Good Neighbor Stories working to inspire people to be better neighbors, not just in the literal sense of proximity on our own blocks, but in the global sense of how our actions ripple out through our communities and the rest of the world. What we do—or don't do—has very real impact, even if we don't perceive it. And while I haven't said it explicitly, I do imply that being a good neighbor equals being a good citizen.

In this age of up to half or more of the eligible voters not exercising the right to vote, this may seem like a bold, or even naive, claim: good neighbors/citizens vote. It is a right, but it's also a responsibility. And with that responsibility comes some preparation so that the vote you make is an informed one.

If you have not registered to vote, or moved since you last voted, you have until Monday, Oct. 22, in California (postmarked or turned in at an official site) to register. You can register right now online. Once registered, take some time to do a little research before voting. In my next post, I'll go into more detail on that aspect.

In the meantime, here are several basic reminders of why it's important to vote:

  • A democracy works best when everyone participates. We are electing people to represent us at all levels of government; those representatives will make very real decisions which will impact our everyday lives. If we don't participate, at best we are taking the risk that those who do not represent our views or needs will be elected; at worst we are opening the door to those who want to manipulate or dominate the process to the benefit of the few.
  • Your right to vote was hard won. As a nation we've fought hard for a representative government and the right to vote; our troops throughout history have fought and died to protect that right. In addition, there are forefathers and foremothers who fought for women and minorities to be able to vote, a fact that should not be taken for granted.
  • Your vote does matter. My family would attest to me being a bit of a broken record whenever I hear someone say, "My vote doesn't matter." My response is always, "If everyone thought that way what do you think would happen?" My background is in political science and journalism. I've studied or reported on local elections where just a few votes did matter. I've witnessed candidates or measures fail by numbers small enough that might have been overcome by better campaign organization or get-out-the-vote efforts. And when it comes to national elections, just because you don't live in a swing state, or you have a viewpoint that is to the opposite of most of the voters in your region, does not mean you should opt out. Numerous state and local candidates, as well as initiatives, are dependent on your participation.

To see the complete list of why it's important to vote, go to the Good Neighbor Stories website.

Find out what's happening in Cupertinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Do you agree? Why or why not is it important to vote? Tell me in the comments section!


We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?