I see an awful lot of people supporting movements, passionate about civil rights, and sick of the Trump administration which thrills me. It feels good to be on the right side of history. But I also know for a fact that a lot of those people posting memes and attending rallies aren’t even registered to vote, and not for any reason other than they just never bothered to register. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to shame anyone. I’m simply suggesting that if you’re truly passionate about the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and the literal fate of our country, don’t you think it’s time you put your ballot where your mouth is?
Why aren’t more young people voting? And how much of this shit show could have been avoided if they had? Talk is cheap if you’re not exercising your right to vote. According to the BBC, “In the US, people aged 39 and younger – millennials and Generation Z – now make up more than a third of eligible voters . They’re considered more ethnically diverse, and liberal, than older generations, and experts say they could make a significant impact on this year’s elections.” However, they make up a small percentage of overall voters. This article details a number of reasons for this including lack of interest, feelings of disillusionment, and little encouragement. I’m hopeful that with the momentum of the BLM and other movements, more young people will take their voting rights more seriously.
So if you haven’t already done so, please for the love of humanity register. It’s super easy to do. You can even register online. Here are the steps from USA.gov
Visit Vote.gov to register to vote. Depending on your state’s voter registration rules, the site can help you
- Register online. This is available for 39 states plus the District of Columbia.
- Download the National Mail Voter Registration Form. You can fill it out onscreen and print the completed form, or print the blank form and fill it out by hand. Remember to sign the form before mailing it to the location listed for your state.
If you care about the well-being of your black friends, VOTE!
If you want to protect the rights of your gay friends, VOTE!
If you’re concerned about the planet, VOTE!
If you’re sick of this administration and you want to prevent an embarrassment like Trump from happening again, VOTE!
Let’s make 2020 the year big changes happen! Who’s going to the polls with me?