Voting

MANY LEARNED PERSONS have argued that the right to vote is a duty, a responsibility, and a privilege, and that it is important for all citizens to vote in every election to make sure that the democratic representative system of government is maintained. Further, they claim that those who do not vote lose their voice in the government. While the importance of voting cannot be understated, U.S. citizens are asked to vote with more frequency than in any other country. The entire structure of the government is based on citizens voting for representation, yet most presidential elections are decided by less than 70 percent of the eligible voting public.

Even fewer people vote in mid-term elections and local elections. Each citizen has a civic responsibility, which is the duty of citizens of a nation to participate in the formation of public policy and to uphold and obey the country's laws. Each citizen has an obligation to elect good, honest, wise men and women to represent them at all levels of government, to inform themselves on political issues, and to make their opinions known to their representatives. All citizens of a free society also have the duty to be actively involved in efforts to defend their freedom, improve their communities, and act responsibly toward themselves and other citizens.

Americans have often claimed that voting spreads their freedom throughout the world; yet, many citizens of the United States often take their rights for granted. According to many reports, other countries have consistently higher voter turnout than the United States. Many U.S. citizens claim that their vote does not count. In a country with a voting population of more that than 200 million in 2008, that may appear to be true, but the 2004 presidential election is a good example of why everyone who can vote should vote.

While a single vote may rarely make the difference, the more people who believe that their votes do not count, the greater the impact of their lack of participation. Many Americans have expressed frustration with America's electoral system. They ask what happens when you don't like any of the candidates. Sometimes, it is hard to make a desirable choice, but it is still the responsibility of every citizen over 18-years-old to choose. Scholars have said that if an individual cannot see the difference between candidates, it is his or her duty to become better informed, keeping alive the old adage that “knowledge is power.”

To many Americans, the practice of voting has lost much of it allure. Few businesses allow employees to take Election Day off, although most states keep polls open for at least 12 hours. Some people do not have transportation to the polls. Others are confused about their rights concerning voting. After one of the largest [Page 842]voting drives in the nation's history, less than 60 percent of eligible citizens turned out in 2004 to cast their vote in the election.

Citizens of a free society have the duty to be actively involved in efforts to defend their freedom, improve their communities, and act responsibly toward themselves and other citizens—a large part of this duty is turning out to vote.

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