Vote for the Future

As the expression goes, we live in difficult and unpredictable times. The world feels like it’s upside down – and it’s very unclear when and how it will right itself. We’ve been warned about pandemic risks for the last twenty years. More sadly, Black People have lived with the scourge of racism in America for 400 years. 2020 will forever mark a shift in our country and our culture. A demarcation point that will either lead to recovery and reconciliation…or continued suffering and inequity. The question we all must ask is “What can I do?”

That simple statement has made me immensely uncomfortable. How could I, as a thoughtful, self-proclaimed “civic engineer,” have done so little about these and other problems? Global warming. Lack of health care. Income inequities. Pandemic and disaster exposure. As the most painful example, I was certainly aware that racism in various forms persists across our country, but I was clearly blind to the daily fear and anguish amongst People of Color. There is a huge difference between intellectual understanding and emotional appreciation. I’ve started a journey – and have a long way to go.

But in all this thinking, I have reached one important conclusion: we all have to own the problems. And fixing these issues starts with a simple act. We all have to vote.

First, let’s look at some data. Information from the United States Election Project demonstrates that even in presidential election years, only 50-60% of eligible voters actually cast ballots. And in non-election years, participation is 10-15% points lower. And that says nothing about the even lower turnout for primaries and local elections. The fact is that less than 30% of eligible voters selected Donald Trump as our president in 2016. Put another way, 63 million people voted for Trump, 66 million voted for Hillary Clinton, BUT almost 100 million eligible citizens DID NOT VOTE.

Regardless of your political persuasion or your views on the country’s current progress, it’s simply unacceptable that we allow a small subset of the population to elect our leaders. So let’s take a pledge together: not only will we vote in EVERY election, but we’re going to encourage, badger, and harangue all of our friends, kids, and parents to vote too.

With that in mind, here’s my quick guide to increasing voter participation.

1.    No Excuses: When people are asked why they don’t vote, the list of reasons includes “I’m not informed” or “I’m too busy.” These “reasons” are just bad excuses. If you want to be informed, there is this amazing thing called the Internet – and while there is much disinformation there, it is also easy to find credible sources on the issues. We all have our own social networks to draw on as well – people or organizations who can inform us and also serve as sounding boards on the issues. If there is a race or a topic where you don’t feel qualified, don’t vote on that item. As for being “too busy”, in almost every state, you can easily vote by mail in the 2020 election – and even if you choose not to do that, allocating an hour (or 2 or 3) to have a say in the issues of the day is a small price to pay for a better future. Voting should be easier – a good topic for another post and lots of policy work – but that just reinforces the point that we need to elect better leaders who understand that.

2.    Think Local: Another common refrain I hear is that “It doesn’t affect my life.” Events of the last four years have certainly demonstrated that national issues absolutely affect each of us. But even if you discount that, elections aren’t just about voting for the President or Congress. We elect mayors, city council members, school board members, sheriffs, police chiefs, and numerous other local officials. Many states and municipalities also have referendums that are specific to their local communities. Setting aside national or statewide offices, we should all vote because of the local leaders and issues that affect our daily lives.

3.    Every Election: An important corollary to “Think Local” is that we all must vote in as many elections as we can. If your excuse is that you “Don’t like the candidates,” ask yourself if you voted in the primary? And then remind yourself that you still have to make a choice. Many local issues are voted on throughout the year or in “non-presidential” or “odd” years – that doesn’t make them any less important. These special elections often cover topics like school referendums and tax initiatives that in many ways are more important to us on a day-to-day basis.

4.    Young and Old: Voter participation is particularly low amongst young voters. According to the New York Times-Forbes, in the 2016 election, only a bit over 40% of those 18-29 years old voted – compared to approximately 70% of those 65+ years old. Interestingly, in terms of eligible voters, the 18-29 year old group is almost twice the size of 65+ eligible voters. It is critically important that all age groups exercise their right to vote – but younger voters should have a special incentive to influence the direction of their communities and country for their extended future.

5.    Don’t Wait: Registering and preparing to vote is far too complicated – something that won’t get fixed for the 2020 election. Even in a vote-by-mail scenario, there is advanced work you have to do to ensure eligibility, to receive your ballot at the right location and the right time, and to explore the candidates and issues. Lead time will be especially important as many rules and processes are changing in a Covid-19 world. It is imperative that each of us do the research right NOW on how to vote and make sure that we are ready. If you are looking for resources on voting, www.vote.org has a simple page that provides links to many of the resources you need to confirm your registration, register to vote, and vote by mail.

Each of us can (and must) do our own “civic engineering” work to support and improve our communities. As an example, I work extensively with Boys and Girls Clubs of America locally and nationally. Most areas have a local community foundation that can act as a great resource to connect you with worthy organizations.

But in the midst of the current storm, many of the problems faced by our communities – and indeed by the country – feel insurmountable for individuals. Issues like climate change, income inequality, and racism will take decades to address fully. Others like disaster preparedness, immigration, infrastructure repair, and election reform can be impacted in shorter time frames. In either case, if our goal is to change the system, it takes strong leadership to guide and drive the required new approaches. To return to the racism example, if we want to see police and criminal justice reform, we need to elect local, state, and national leaders that can drive better policy.

Bottom line: The best way for each of us to drive systemic change is to vote…and to vote every time.