Column: Every vote matters

Published 4:00 am Monday, January 15, 2024

Evonna West of Ridgeview won $500 from the League of Women Voters Deschutes for her essay on the theme "Why Vote?"

There’s this story that I read once in a book that was about what we can do to help prevent climate change. There is a bird in a forest, and the forest is on fire. So, the bird goes to the lake and gets a small drop of water in her beak. She flies back over to the fire and spits the water onto the fire. A lion laughs and says “Stupid bird. Your efforts won’t make enough of a difference to put out the fire.”

But then a deer comes by and scoops up some water in his mouth, bringing it over to the fire. More animals join in until all the animals are putting out the fire together. The forest is saved, and the lion realizes his mistake. The book uses the story to show that all our little actions matter, even if it might not seem like it.

The same message is what we depend on when we invest in the stock market. If I buy stock from Levi’s, I’m not hanging on to the idea that one customer buying a pair of jeans is going to make my stock go up in value, rather I’m hoping that many individuals will buy a pair of jeans.

So we could say that the bird doesn’t matter, or that one sale doesn’t matter, but they do because without individual actions, the forest would be gone and I would lose money on my investment.

So why, when you say that your vote doesn’t matter, do you support that idea with: “I’m just one person”? Well, yes, you’re one person, one vote. But so is the person next to you, and next to them, and so on.

Half the voters out there aren’t half as informed as you are. About 48% of US citizens in 2021 said that they got news from social media “sometimes” or “often.” These Americans are most likely to be in the “under 30” age group, but the same technology that allows us to send messages on Snapchat also gives us the resources to access reliable news sites. Young voters can have a beneficial influence on our democracy if we stay informed.

Americans who depend on platforms like Instagram and Twitter are more likely to be exposed to made-up news. You have the power and the ability to access factual information, so you have the power to vote consciously. Politics is for everyone, so your informed vote matters. The future belongs just as much to us as it does to the 30+ year-olds who are statistically more likely to get their ballots in than we are. By voting now, we are taking a step towards exploring the complexity of gun violence and healthcare. Worker’s rights and education. Taxes and climate change. These things touch our lives, and your vote helps decide who deals with them. We have inherited problems from generations before us, so your young vote matters.

Voting is the best shot we have at reflecting the diverse makeup of America. Not everyone can be in Congress, but everyone can vote. The 118th Congress is more diverse than ever before, but it is still composed of 72% male whereas females in the U.S. account for over half the population. Your vote can help accurately voice your opinion as a member of a gender, racial, or ethnic group. On average, White people are more consistent voters than Black, Hispanic, or Asian Americans. When you vote, you are representing your unique background, whatever that may be. Your diverse vote matters.

What about the world concerns you the most? Does your jaw drop when you hear about the latest shooting? Does the sight of the melting ice caps make your heart sink? What’s your opinion on criminal justice reform? You should vote because what matters to you matters to your peers, your family, your country, and your world. Your informed vote matters, your young vote matters, and your diverse vote matters. You should vote because your vote — your opinion — matters to me. I’m just one person, but so is the person next to me, and next to them, and so on.

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