I was thinking about…

The Urgency of Voter Participation in the Wake of Biden’s Exit

by Andy Lee

Well, the 2024 presidential race just took a major unexpected turn with the news of Joe Biden dropping out. As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

In this case, who exactly got punched remains open to interpretation depending on your political leanings. Some will view Biden’s departure as a blow to one party, while others see it as an opportunity. However, I would argue that the biggest potential impact could be on American democracy itself if we allow this surprising development to deter voter participation.

The right to vote is a critical pillar of living in the USA, regardless of whether you lean to the extreme right, left, or reside somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum. While you’re entitled to your party affiliations and stances on issues, the very act of voting and making your voice heard as a citizen matters immensely.

I firmly believe our democracy is under attack when people choose to be apathetic and abstain from voting. It’s easy to think your single vote doesn’t carry much weight, but that mindset is dangerous. By not voting, you’re essentially telling politicians “Do whatever you want with the country, I don’t care.” And I refuse to accept that any citizen is truly ambivalent about the direction of the nation they live in.

We have an obligation not just to ourselves, but to our families, friends, and every American to be active participants in our democracy. Voting is how you preserve a voice in the political process – choosing not to vote surrenders that voice completely.

As former President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”

While the 2024 election has been upended, we must not allow that to discourage or divide us. Now more than ever, we need engaged citizens exercising their constitutional rights and civic duties.

So I encourage every American to stay informed, to make your voice heard at the ballot box, and to exercise the sacred right that so many have fought to protect. Our democracy is strongest when we all participate.

Stay civically engaged, keep showing up for democracy! 🗳️📜✌️