Every Vote Counts! (Unless You Do the Math)

Prompted by Mike's most recent post, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on voting: why it's important and why we do it. There have been two major advancements for suffrage in this country. In 1870, in the wake of the Civil War, we passed the Fifteenth Amendment (of the 37 states that ratified it, Arkansas was the 10th!), which stated that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Hooray for equality! However, after the initial wave of Reconstruction shifted power towards African Americans, states began pass voter qualification laws, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, which greatly restricted African Americans' right to vote. Sadly, it wasn't until the 24th Amendment in 1964 (Shamefully, Arkansas was among the last five states to retain a poll tax) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that these Constitutional rights were upheld.

But let's not forget misogyny. Women's right to vote was restricted until the ripe time of 1920, with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment (this time, Arkansas was the 12th!), which stated that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

These two steps were instrumental to our nation fulfilling its promise that all men are created equal. The right to vote is essential for there to exist equality among all sectors of society (though, as is obvious, it does not guarantee it). Those who cannot vote are powerless.

However, I am still left with the fact that my vote, in any statewide or national election, does not matter. In local elections, it is conceivable that one vote would make a difference (In fact, the 1977 mayorial election in Ann Arbor, Michigan was decided by only one vote), but in any larger election the odds are astronomically against it. For example, the 2000 election was decided by Florida, where 537 votes out of 6 million made the difference, so even in a historically close election, one vote does not matter. Moreover, I would wager that the margin of error for counting votes would be greater than one, which would render one vote mathmatically insignificant. In response to this, many people argue that if lots of people believed this, then it would make a difference. But that is a different issue. Groups of people voting make a difference, but whether I, as a solitary voter, stay home or go to the voting booth next Tuesday ultimately does not matter.

And yet I vote.

Why? you may ask. No doubt, some of you are angered by my seemingly apathetic view of things. I assure you, I am not apathetic, but rather reason has led me to these conclusions. Rationally, I can find no argument for voting. I can find an argument against what I am doing now, because it might influence others not to vote, but I hope that that won't be the case. I vote for the simple reason that it makes me feel good. I like participating in the process, and by doing so I force myself to become more involved and to pay closer attention to the state of our nation, thereby becoming a better citizen. This, to me, is important, and so since I value voting, it in fact is reasonable for me to vote.

I hope that as you are reflecting on which presidential candidate will better lead our nation, you will consider what I've said and come to value voting as well. Whatever your reasons, and whomever you vote for, get out there and vote on Tuesday the 4th.

Go America!