I have five children so I know what it’s like making sure things are attended to. There was one point where I had four children in high school, and those were some trying times. Having so many kids came with many ups and downs and quite a bit of work. There’s the laundry (A LOT of laundry), the meals, and, of course picking up around the house.
There were always things that one of the kids thought their siblings would do. “Oh, Nolan will feed the dog,” or “ Jordan will let the horses out,” or “ Bridgett will water the plants.” Often, the chores would end up being left undone.
This is similar to what I have been seeing, hearing, and feeling throughout this campaign. “Oh, someone else will help canvass,” or “I gave to the party, I’m sure someone else will take care of it.” Worst of all, “Someone else will vote so I don’t need to.”
Apathy is my biggest opponent this November, not the other candidate. Apathy and disbelief. Young and old, I hear every day about the cynicism and disbelief in the political system and its effect on daily lives. For too long, there has been a lack of faith in our political system, for one reason or another. Mostly, there is a lack of faith that politicians can do things to make lives better. As a state delegate, I have more of an impact on my constituents’ lives than anyone in Washington. It doesn’t help when they see billions of dollars wasted at the federal level and, being from Virginia, the lack of state campaign finance law makes matters worse.
This fall in Virginia, and Mississippi, and Kentucky, and New Jersey, and Louisiana, candidates just like me are fighting apathy. If I win with 51% of the vote, that is only 20% of total registered voters in my district. 20% deciding who will vote on taxes, and school funding, and redistricting, and Medicaid expansion. When game shows get more call ins than people voting, there is something wrong. State governments need to ensure ease of access for voting. Media outlets need to ensure proper education of voters. Candidates and campaigns need to have specific, fact-based messages on how to move their districts forward.
This fall, it is no longer acceptable that 20% of the electorate decide an election. We need you to vote. We need you to tell five people to vote. And they need to tell five people to vote. And we, as American’s need to do our civic duty, which men and women have put their lives on the line for, and vote. You need to take the time to request an absentee ballot or stop into your polling location. It is your duty.
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