Why should I vote?

With controversy between candidates and division amongst parties, voting now is vital to ensure each citizen’s voice is heard. 

Voting enables us to create positive changes for our communities and for future generations to come. 

Arguably, the most valued duty as an American citizen is to vote.

It gives Americans the opportunity to voice our opinions and select the person we want to represent our country as a whole.  

As former President of the United States, Barack Obama, said, “There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.”

In other words all votes matter and every single one exerts the freedom of speech and thought. 

Our turn 

It is especially important for minorities to vote because of the lives sacrificed and lost in order to gain the right to vote. 

Women did not secure their right to vote until 1920.

The Women’s Suffrage movement was started by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who sent a petition to  Congress requesting that voting rights apply the same to women.  

Supporters of the movement marched, protested, and risked their lives in order to guarantee women the right to vote.

 Blacks also did not gain the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. 

Using this privilege to vote honors those who sacrificed their lives to gain the right and also voices your own opinion. 

         Where can I vote?

In El Paso, there are 146 different polling locations where citizens are eligible to vote at.   

On March 5, Texas held their primary election day where voters placed their initial votes, and both Donald Trump and Joe Biden won Texas in their given parties. 

Voting centers were open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m and voters were allowed to vote at any location.

Using the website epcountyvotes.com allows you to plug in your zip code and it will direct you to the nearest voting location. 

On May 28, the runoff elections between Oscar Ugarte and Robert Flores will take place for the position of El Paso Sheriff.   

 These locations will be open and welcoming all eligible voters. 

Voter fraud

According to the FBI, a fraudulent vote and an election crime is when a  ballot includes one or more federal candidates, an election official abuses their duties, votes include fraudulent voter registration, and if a voter is not U.S. citizens. 

Many regulations must be followed in order for a citizen to vote in order to prevent fraudulent votes. 

It is important that all poll workers are liable and fair because if not then bias prevails leading to unethical actions. 

For example, during the 2020 primary election over 534,000 mail ballots were rejected during primaries across 23 states. (Statistic from the Washington Post) 

Most of these votes were thrown away due to discrepancies or missed delivery deadlines, it has been speculated that some of those votes might not have been truly invalid. 

Loretto’s voters 

Loretto Academy brought in a voter registration representative in order to prepare our seniors who will be eligible for the upcoming election.

Christiane Tapia, who is interested in pursuing politics and is student body president, said, “This year I plan to vote especially because it will be my first time. 

Voting is important because it gives us citizens a voice in shaping our government and policies, ensuring that our concerns and values are represented.

 At the end of the day we have the “power” to elect the person that can make or break the U.S.”   

We have the power to spread a message and speak through our votes. 

With the upcoming presidential election, consider voting in order to shape a better future for upcoming generations.