Voting Impact and Struggle

            Though there is nothing we can do to grant confidence in the citizens of America, one small, intimate step you can take is fulfilling your civic duties as a citizen. A prime example of this includes the act of voting. Being able to vote allows you and the people of America to include themselves closely in politics where they can vote for local policies, house representatives, state senators, supreme court officials, electoral college members, and even elect the president of the United States. We as citizens, are key players in passing policies we are passionate about and moving our country in the right direction where everyone is represented. However, in recent years, our Samaritan obligation to vote has become a difficult problem. To be able to participate in voting you must be a registered voter, and unfortunately, it’s not as accessible as it is for some people. This then entails a very low voter turnout during election season. According to NPR session:  The Cost to Cast a Ballot, "In 1940, a mere 3 percent of the voting-age, black men and women in the South were registered to vote… in Mississippi, less than 1 percent were registered voters…Luckily today that amount has since gone up but still only remains with 30 percent of Blacks voting” ( The Cost to Cast a Ballot).  Because of the evident situation of low voter turnout every year, this leads an unequal representation among various parts of the population. “Different groups have significantly divergent preferences, as seen in trade, or union policies each support… the problem isn’t that you, a single voter, are voting (or not) and seeing benefits; rather, it’s that one group is dominating the system” (The High Cost of Low Voter Turnout).  Reflecting on what Barack Obama said in his farewell speech, we need not to forego our opportunity to be involved, presuming that benefits will still come, because alas, benefits and positive development come less frequently to those who need it the most. Which in turn, describes the important impact that follows when you vote.

Activist Photographers Who Fought ...collectorsweekly.com

Voter Registration Trends: Alabamadailykos.com