Does my vote count?
As a Democrat in a largely Democratic state, I cannot help but wonder how much of a difference my vote makes.
Lets go back to the beginning, the first election that I was of age of to vote in was the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. At the time I was a resident of the state of Florida. I am sure we all remember how the election panned out especially with regard to Florida, if not check this Time magazine article out: “Making Votes Count in Florida“
During the campaigning for the 2000 election, there were a couple of considerations. Ralph Nadar was running under the Green party and in a fight to win 5% of the vote in order to get federal funding in the next election. The concern was that Nadar would take the votes away from Al Gore, essentially handing the presidency over to George W. Bush.
This was very important in the swing-states. Florida is and was at the time one of these crucial states. On election day when I made my way to the polls I had this feeling like I doing something important, that my vote really counted and that I had a voice in this election.
Eight years later and coming up on my second presidential election as a New York voter, I am struck by something my boyfriend said to me. When I asked him if he was going to vote, he responded with a big “NO”. I pressed the issue and he said that there is no reason to bother. His vote will not help get the Democrats the state, the democrats already have the state. He continued by saying that if there were ever a threat that New York would fall to the conservatives, he would head out and cast his vote. Until then, what’s the point?
I had not even thought about it that way. I always held my right to vote in a high regard and feel this sense of empowerment when I head out to the polls. As Bob Schieffer said at the close of last week’s debate, “Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong.”
I am not sure I will feel so big and strong this year after I pull the handle on the voting machine and cast my vote.