The topic of my column today was initiated by a brief discussion I had with my son about the importance of voting.  With the election being just a few days away, the issue of everyone voting is truly important and very serious.  In this piece, I am by no means attempting to promote a particular party or candidate.  As a columnist, it is not my right to endorse one candidate or party over another.  However, I reserve the right to expound and emphasize issues that are essential to the general well-being of our community and who we are as American citizens.  There are some very important reasons why every citizen should be registered and vote that we will consider.

Voting Is Our Civic Duty
In my opinion, one of the primary reasons why we as citizens should vote is simply because it is our civic duty.  Voting is not just a right for American citizens; it is a responsibility.  It is a responsibility that we all must shoulder in order that we may maintain a true democratic government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”  When you fail or refuse to vote, you are a part of the problem.  How many races have been determined by a close margin and perhaps the most qualified and civic-minded person did not get a chance to serve because of voter apathy and John Doe’s refusal to get out and vote.

Voting Is Power
Not all of us have large sums of money, assets, and material wealth.  Few of us can boast of having political clout or of being a member of an elite group of wheelers and dealers who make things happen.  However, what each of us possesses in equality with every other citizen who is registered to vote is our power to vote and help determine who our elected officials (President, senator, representative, or councilman) are going to be.  So do not take your vote for granted and believe that it does not matter.  Elections are won one vote at a time.  Citizens, your vote contains power!

Voting Helps to Keep Incumbents in Line
It is a good thing that we have term limits and that those who are in office are required to run for re-election when their term is up.  I am of the opinion that when some stay in office too long, they have a tendency to become ineffective and out of touch with the very people who elected them.  Regrettably, some politicians and elected officials, who are incumbents, seem to only come alive and put forth nominal representation and service for their constituency only when it is time to campaign for re-election.  Knowing that they can be voted out of office just as they were voted in is a good way of keeping them in line.

We Owe It to Those Who Fought For Our Right to Vote
Both the Women Suffrage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement open the doors for millions of Americans to vote like nothing else in American history.  It changed the political landscape of our nation and saw many minorities and women, who otherwise would have never served in a political office, elected to positions that were once occupied by only white men.  African Americans are especially indebted to the protests, sit-ins, marches, boycotts, and other strategic maneuvers that the various Civil Rights groups organized and led.  It was the blood, toil, tears, and sweat of these civic minded heroes that ultimately obtained not only our right to vote, but also defeated Jim Crow.  This is one of the primary reasons why we should vote and not take what others have suffered and even died to give us for granted.  We owe it to their legacy, memory, and gallantry to not be a victim of voter apathy.  Let us speak loud with the voice of our vote and elect the candidates who will represent us and our vested interest in a respectable, competent, and effective fashion.  We need elected officials who will not cater to lobbyist, special interest groups or would be power brokers with deep pockets.  If there is any hope of salvaging and restoring America back to true greatness, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all, then men of conviction, compassion, and courage must be voted into office on every level of government.  There was perhaps never a time in the history of America when voting was so essential to the well-being of our nation and culture.  Do not be guilty of contributing to the collapse and fall of America because you failed to register and vote.  Be a good citizen and do your civic duty.