November is quickly approaching, and with the upcoming presidential election, everybody above the age of 18 has more than just their favorite Thanksgiving dish to look forward to. Whether you’re mailing in your ballot, or visiting the polls, there are many reasons for everyone to exercise their right to vote vote vote!

Throughout the course of history, nothing has been more popular than monarchical governments that rule through long lines of successors and family lineages. The citizens of these countries were subject to all of their ancestors’ previous beliefs, policies and ideals without much choice. They were practically living by the famous saying of “you get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.”

Our founding fathers had something different in mind. By setting up a republic built around the needs of the people, they created a government that catered towards the average citizen more than anything else. Now it’s up to us not to take this for granted!

There are plenty of other countries that don’t get the privilege to vote or share their voice like we can. Every citizen of the U.S. has been given the privilege to voice their opinion through the simplest of petitions: the ballot.

No matter who you are voting for, you should take advantage of this incredible opportunity and vote while you can. The big day is November 3, so if you do decide to vote make sure you do a little bit of research to find out where your designated polling place would be based on your address. Obviously everything is a little bit different with COVID-19 this year, so if you have contracted the virus or feel like you cannot be in attendance on voting day, any previously registered voter can apply for an absentee ballot that will be mailed.

Here at St. Dominic, many of our own teachers are passionate about voting; including Mr. Eckhard. He remembers when he first voted back in 1980, and he can still recall all the debates about whether or not Ronald Reagan should be in office. Naturally, he wanted to have a say in this, as well as some other issues of the time including Roe vs. Wade, which was a relatively new hearing at the time. Overall he mainly just wants his opinions to be voiced in everything that is happening in the country.

“I think voting is important, for it gives you a sense of ownership in the U.S.A. It makes you feel like you have a stake in what happens. I would encourage people to vote because it is the backbone of democracy, and I think young voters bring a perspective to the table that the older generation has forgotten,” Mr. Eckhard said.

Mrs. Jurgensmeyer also spoke out about how important it is to be informed when voting. While it is important to chime in with your opinions, the elections shouldn’t necessarily be taken as a light matter. We as citizens need to be responsible and make the best choices for our country, and that means we must educate ourselves in the candidates.

“If someone is on the fence or unsure about voting, I would strongly encourage them to do their homework and research before they make their decisions on the issues or candidates. I think anyone, young and old alike, should research the candidates and the issues and make faith-filled decisions when they vote,” Mrs. Jurgensmeyer said.

Election Day is coming up soon, so make sure you don’t forget if you’re eligible to vote. Remember, voting should never be seen as a burden, because it gives you the opportunity to let your voice be heard. So do your research, head on out to the polls and vote vote vote!