Vote Like Your Life Depends On It

KATIE ROGERS: It has been quite a week. Quite a month really. When I think about it, it has been quite a year. I am constantly bombarded with the latest news at a faster rate than I can take in, especially given the craziness it often entails. I consider myself someone who tries to keep up with the news, particularly politically. But when there are multiple scandals on a daily basis it is truly impossible to keep track of what is happening, never mind remembering what has happened in the past. Things that would have been talked about for weeks or even months in previous administrations are now barely getting a day’s worth of coverage. It is so easy to forget about some of the major problems we are facing given that we are constantly presented with an overwhelming number of issues.

All recent political news has been incredibly discouraging. Seeing families torn apart and children left to fend for themselves is heartbreaking and unconscionable. Watching a man credibly accused of sexual assault bully his way onto the Supreme Court was hard. Hearing a bunch of straight white men not only defend him but then claim that it is such a hard time for men was harder. Seeing people feel more comfortable exhibiting racist, sexist, and xenophobic behaviors has been appalling. I can’t even tell you the number of videos I have seen of people berating others and telling them to go back to where they came from.

There have been many days where I simply could not open my Twitter feed because I simply could not read any more of what was happening.

The road to recovery from this is not going to be quick or easy. It is going to take a long time to repair the wounds this administration has created. Though difficult, it is not impossible. And it starts with voting this November. No matter where you are from, these midterms are critical. I cannot emphasize that you must vote. Everyone you know must vote. We need to work together to ensure that everyone recognizes that the very roots of our country are being threatened and that voting is the only way we can begin the process of recovery.

Talk about nothing but voting until November. Your friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers you encounter should be so tired of hearing you talk about voting by the time that elections come around that they remember to vote. Make sure you are registered and that you have a plan to vote, whether it be in person or absentee. Then make sure everyone else you know does the same. Do not be shy, reach out to your friends in person, on Facebook, wherever.

Educate yourself and others on who is running and what they are running for. If you find a candidate you really believe in, take a few hours to canvass or phone bank for them in your community. You’d be surprised at the difference it can make. Take for instance, Molly McGrath who went out canvassing in her community. At one door she knocked on, she met a man who asked her “Are you really going around to make sure everyone in my neighborhood can vote?” When she said yes, he left his house to join her.

Each and every one of us has the ability to have an impact on the upcoming elections. It is up to us to hold our representatives accountable for their actions. If you are unhappy with what has been happening and the people in charge, vote them out!