Rick Liblong: Should I or shouldn’t I vote? 

I remember well the first time I voted in a national election. I was home in Michigan on leave from the Air Force and went to cast an absentee ballot. We were electing a president that year as well as a U.S. senator, a U.S. representative, various state and local officials, and deciding on several ballot proposals.

I marked my choices (some winners, some not, as it turned out) and handed the ballot to the clerk. She handed me an “I Voted” sticker that I proudly stuck on my shirt. When I walked back to my car, I felt 10 feet tall. I felt as if I had just hugged the Statue of Liberty. I was now a full-fledged adult American citizen. I voted!

Obviously, I knew my one vote was not likely to make a huge difference in who won or lost, but in our representative democracy, many of us collectively — like-minded souls — can help shape the future.

Every election season, the same question comes to mind: Does my vote really matter? With millions of ballots cast and endless political arguments dominating the news, it can be tempting to believe that one person’s participation makes little difference. Yet the more I consider it, the more convinced I become that voting is not only a right, but a responsibility.

Countless people died to preserve that right for me, and I cannot disappoint or dishonor them by ignoring the call.

Voting is easy. In many places, you can do it from your kitchen table if you wish. Vote early, vote remotely, vote by mail, or go to the polls on Election Day.

Voting is one of the few opportunities citizens have to directly influence the decisions that shape their daily lives. The officials elected today will make choices about education, health care, public safety, taxes, and countless other issues that affect families and communities. Choosing not to vote does not remove those decisions from my life; it simply means allowing others to make them for me.

Voting is also about representation. Democracies function best when elected leaders reflect the will of the people. When we don’t participate, the resulting government may represent only a fraction of the public. By casting a ballot, I help ensure that my values, concerns, and priorities are included in the political conversation.

Today, with modern technology, it is easier than ever to be informed about issues and where candidates stand on them. Watch, listen, and learn. Go to a rally. Talk to a candidate. Better yet, run for office yourself!

No candidate is perfect, and no election offers simple solutions to complex problems. Yet democracy depends on citizens showing up, making informed choices, and accepting responsibility for the future of their communities. That is why I vote. Not because my voice is the only one that matters, but because it is one of many that together shape the direction of our society.

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, independent (or a Whig, Bull Moose, Mugwump, Dixiecrat, Free-Soiler, or anything else), America — and democracy — needs you.

Traditionally, midterm elections draw fewer voters to the polls; nationwide voter turnout in 2022 was just 46.2%. C’mon, America, we can do better!

Yes, it’s important. It’s necessary. It’s our duty as citizens. VOTE!