By Lillian Poulsen, Digital Organizer
Voting is an important part of our society. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to make decisions that affect our daily lives. The United States of America was built on a democracy. We, the people, decide what happens in our government.
I asked Forward Montana staff why they care about voting and why you should, too!
Why do you care about voting?
There are many reasons to care about voting, from making a difference in your community to fighting fascism in government. One of the most important tools we have is voting. It’s one of the most effective ways we can get results for the future we want to build.
We live in a world created by our parents and grandparents. Now, it’s our turn to cast our ballots and support the communities and ideas we care about.
“Whether we like it or not, everything is political,” said Hannah Gale, Program Director. “Voting isn’t going to fix everything, but it takes like five minutes and it’s one of the easiest ways to make your voice heard.”
“We don’t always see the results of voting as in our favor but the practice of voting reminds me that in some small way we all still have a chance to make a difference. I’ll hold onto that nugget of control til the very end,” said Jacob Rosen, Development Director. “I want to be on the right side of history and not be complicit to tragedies or poor management, even though I still might suffer from them.”
“It’s important to participate in our democracy. Voting is the most powerful tool we have that doesn’t involve violence,” said Caleb Klaus, Multimedia Specialist, “Without our participation, we might as well have a dictatorship.”
“I vote to get better people into office who are more in-line with the working-class population and also for the ballot initiatives that help progress the MT constitution,” said Juli Sanders, Senior Organizing Manager for the Western Region. “Young people can’t afford shit and billionaires are destroying our world. I vote to do everything I can civically to try and make our country better for all of us young people who want a better tomorrow.
“Because it DOES make a difference, especially at a local level,” said Dara Deines, Communications Director. “It’s one of the few tools we have that can push the issues and people forward, that will make a change.”
“I vote to ensure my voice is heard and my community is represented in the democratic decision-making process,” said Chase Comes At Night, Deputy Director of Indian Country.
“I care about voting because not only did people die for the right to have a say in the government, but women were not allowed to vote until years later,” said Kelsey Combs, Billings Fellow. “It is my right and privilege to vote.”
“I care about voting because I believe in the power of the people to create and demand change from our leaders,” said Alice Boyer, Executive Director. “I believe voting is a tool to help us protect our environment, our communities, and build a future where people can afford to live and flourish.”
“Voting puts my values into action,” said Colter Murphy, Civic Education Organizer. “When I vote, I vote on behalf of my community, for its well-being and with optimism for its future.
Why should other young people care?
Gale: “Voting is community care! Take care of your neighbors, community, and environment.”
Rosen: “For one, it can take as little as 20 minutes total from registering to vote, to receiving your ballot, to dropping it off. We all have that time. I believe that we are a community and it’s only through group action that change can occur on a community scale. Everyone should care about voting because it’s the way we can, together, say we want better.”
There’s two worlds that I see: one, where nobody truly sees others as important as they are. so everyone is left behind while a few capitalize on that separation. Two, everyone is seen and acknowledged for being a full person and we move together (though we will always have disagreements) towards something new.
The status quo is clearly not working with housing costs, gas prices, dropping bombs on civilians, mass surveillance, etc. Something new sounds great compared to what we have now.
Klaus: Not voting is a complete abdication of your civic power. If you don’t vote, someone else will. And they will be the ones who get to decide what your life looks like.
Sanders: In our country, we cannot enact real change without voting, passing good legislation and community organizing. Not one of those alone will enact actual change. We need all people to engage civically to make this a reality. If ALL young people voted every election we could have control over election results.
Deines: More young people should vote because if we (18-35-year-olds) turned out at the same rate as older folks, we would have a larger voting bloc. Young people’s voices also matter, because the decisions politicians make will impact us for more of our lives.
Comes At Night: Young people should be invigorated to vote and stand up for their community to ensure their voice is being heard. Voting isn’t hard work, but enduring poor policy making is.
Combs: Young people should care because we must pass voting on or we will lose it altogether. It seems to be a common theme that younger people think their vote does not count. Our votes are SO important and can make real change around us. If we allow those who abuse power to stay in office, and no one votes to voice their opinion, there will be no voting.
Boyer: If your vote didn’t matter, powerful people wouldn’t try so hard to take that right away from you. We have the power to impact the future of our communities through voting, and to do that, we must show up and get others to show up as well.
Murphy: Voters in Montana have a much higher impact than voters in other states, especially in local elections where they vote on city council members or county commissioners, which are often decided by just a few votes.
Voting is one way for young folks to claim their stake in the future and speak with their ballot. When you cast a vote, you’re utilizing an important change-making tool, hopefully, one of many you’re employing to positively impact your community.
Voting should bring you hope and make you feel empowered! Also, if voting didn’t really matter, the oligarchs who hold power over us wouldn’t spend so much money discouraging us from voting or spend money to influence elections!
Reminders
If voting didn’t work, people in power wouldn’t try so hard to keep us from doing it. If voting didn’t matter, only property-owning white men would be able to vote.
Klaus quoted Thomas Jefferson, who once said, “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”
“Saying ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ is highly inaccurate. We see what ONE elected official like Mamdani in NYC can accomplish for the working class, and it literally changes lives and the city for the better,” Sanders said. “Opposite to that, Missoula City Council passed ordinance 12.60 criminalizing homelessness, which is violent and directly harms our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“Your elected officials have a direct effect on how you and your neighbors’ lives are shaped. I wish more young people understood this,” Sanders said. “I know it’s hard and things can feel overwhelming but we can enact real change! Voting matters and IS important.
“Check your voter registration status before and after you cast your ballot! It’s free and easy!” Murphy said.
“Don’t believe people when they say your vote doesn’t matter,” Deines said.
Give a shit! Go vote.