Don’t wait to participate

By Natalia Yarbrough

GED graduate

Illustration by Tim Jackson

Whether it is president, governor, or even a mayor, each one is an extremely important role. Young adults have the right to vote for whom they feel is best suited to run our government. When you turn 18, you have the ability to make a difference. The right thing to do would be to take full advantage of this opportunity and vote.

When talking to young adults (ages 18 to 23), some say that they have not, do not and are not planning on voting. A couple of them say that there is no importance in voting because it won’t help them anyway.

When I heard this, I knew I had to shed some light on young politics.

Even at the age of 17, I know that it is important for me to read up on my government officials and candidates. I understand that having the right people in office means a better life for my family and me. What I am trying to do is get my peers to understand this same concept.

In 1971, the 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gave 18-year-olds the right to vote. Many young adults don’t know the history of voting rights. When you think of voting you might think of the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement had a great impact on voting.

Think of this, young people, how many of your friends are white male property owners? Probably none, right? When the Constitution was first written, only white men who owned property were given the right to vote. According to http://www.infoplease.com/, that was only about 10 percent to 16 percent of the nation’s population. Could you imagine our country if only white men who owned property could vote?

Yet, some of my peers would still ask, “Why vote?” My answer: Why not? Why not make a difference? Why not let your voice be heard? Why let someone else dictate your future?

The government gets to decide what laws are passed. They get to decide how much help we need and get, including financial aid for college What if someone was elected and decided that we don’t need any public assistance? What if that someone was elected because you didn’t vote?

How many 18-year-olds do you know can afford thousands of dollars per semester for a class? How about paying for room and board? Let’s not forget hundreds of dollars per book. Can you afford that? Probably not.

What about people who are on public aid and SNAP (food stamps)? Who do you think gets to decide whether they get the help that they need? The government gets to decide all of that. By voting, you can be a part of that decision-making.

Public assistance is not the only issue decided by politicians. They also influence complicated social and personal issues such as abortion. Yes, the government could control laws that impact your body. For those of you who are pro-choice, someone in office can take that decision away from you. However, if you vote, you have the ability to let your voice be heard. These are reasons that make it important to vote.

On Feb. 22, Chicago will elect a new mayor, and many young people are expected to vote for the first time (including this writer). The four leading Democratic candidates were contacted about the importance of young people participating in the election but only Gery Chico’s campaign responded.

Spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said: “Gery is the father of five young adults. They all went to Chicago public schools and so did Gery. He understands the importance of being engaged. He avidly reaches out to youth and we have a lot of young volunteers for the campaign. He thinks that it is very important for young adults, whether they are registered or not, to pay attention to their public officials. Gery asks that every young student talk to their family and friends and encourage them to get out there and vote. There is nothing more important than for someone to be able to vote.”

You are never too young to learn about what is going on in your country, state, city, or even your community. Do some research and find out more about what you can do. One vote can make a difference, because the ones add up. So, before you decide that you aren’t going to vote, remember your opinion counts. If you have already decided not to participate, you should reconsider because your voice matters.

Through Tuesday, Feb. 15, you may register to vote during the Chicago Election Board’s “Grace Period.” You must register in person and vote during the visit. Bring two forms of identification, one of which must show your current address. Already registered? Early voting runs through Feb. 17 at 51 sites throughout the city.

Chicago Election Board

69 W. Washington St., 6th fl

Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

http://www.chicagoelections.com/