Voting is something I always looked forward to doing. I have always had political aspirations for as long as I could remember. During the hot summer of 1980, I remember as a child watching the Democratic and Republican Party Conventions on television. I remember listening to the speeches and thinking what a wonderful opportunity I would have to one day participate in this democratic system. That summer, while watching the conventions I sat and calculated in my eight year old head, how many years it would be until I would have the chance to cast my ballot for the President of the United States. Nineteen ninety two. Twelve years. I would have to wait twelve long years, before I would be able to decide who I thought should be the President of our country. I envisioned that when the time came, I would be a college student -- my mind ran off with what the adult me would be and look like. I followed every election, both local and national in the next ten years, when I turned 18 and asked my dad what I needed to register as a voter. We filled out the paper work together and since then I have cast my vote in every election that takes place in New York and the United States.
Voting is powerful. I vote because I am given the privilege to make a choice about who I want to represent me. Voting is not easy. It is not simply a matter of going to the polls once a year and casting your ballot. Voting is a responsibility. In order to be powerful voters, we must be educated voters. Taking the time to learn about the issues that are at hand and investigate where our candidates stand is one of the responsibilities of being an educated voter. In addition, we all must be held accountable to casting our ballots. Whether that means having to write once a year, while away at school to request an absentee ballot or simply taking the time on election day to stand in line and vote, we all must be responsible. Empowerment lies in education and responsibility.
Those that do not vote cannot complain about the leadership of their district, city, state or country. Those that do not vote cannot snub their noses at policies that negatively impact them, their friends and loved ones. After much struggle -- as in bloodshed and death-- our leaders granted every citizen in our country the right to vote. Refusing to vote is an insult to those that participated in the strife and were willing to shed their blood as well as lose their lives, so that all individuals in our country may have some form of equal representation.
Finally, our country's political system is not a panacea of perfection. However, we must remember that there are still many countries where individuals are dictated and are never granted the opportunity to change their social and political situations. Voting in our country is a symbol of who we are and what we want. Your vote is one. My vote is one. But together we have two, and if there are more people who feel the way we do on an issue and vote accordingly, we can have the strength and voice to make changes in our country. Voting is more powerful than many of us, even those that gave us the right to vote, realize. Seize that power -- VOTE!