Tuesday, November 8, midterm elections are coming up, and this is why you should vote. For those who don’t know what a midterm is, it's when every member of the House of Representatives, and one-third of the Senate, are up for re-election. It is the same for state governments where legislators/governors are up for election/re-election. The seat of the President and the two-thirds of the senate is not up for election during this time.
Many may wonder why they should even bother to vote during this election cycle. While this time may not be as exciting as when the President is up for election, it does not mean this is still not vital. The President’s job is only to enforce the laws that the legislature writes. In order for a President to enact anything they mostly want, they need congressional approval through legislation. I know many people would find this cumbersome; however, this is a check/balance that our founders placed on our country to prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power.
If you believe that our current President is doing a job well done or at the very least believe in the party they are part of, then you would vote for those in the same party. If you don't like our current President or don't like the party, then you would vote for the party against them. If you don't like anyone in office, vote for a third-party candidate/independent, or run for office. The point is for you to vote, even if you don't think your vote counts. Born or naturalized in this nation, we have a duty to its governance, no matter the circumstances. We should not take this right for granted. Since its creation, there has been a principle of natural equality dictated by the Declaration of Independence in which human beings are the same, with natural and unalienable rights. Now is the time when we are close to fully actualizing this dream, one that many have fought and died to fulfill. So go vote.
The first step to ‘go vote’ is to figure out if you are registered to vote. A large majority of states require you to register to vote. Most states allow you to register or pre-register (for those who are under 18 before election day) online. However, there are important deadlines that you must follow in order to register. An example of this is Maryland, where the deadline for online registration is on October 18, 2022. To find out about these important deadlines, visit this page.
Absentee ballots are what most college students use to vote out of state. For those who have a permanent residence (live in another state) that is not Michigan, it should be fairly easy to obtain an absentee ballot. Visit this page and choose your state on the menu; it will take you directly to your state’s absentee page. Make sure to follow all the directions your state tells you to follow to receive and return an absentee ballot.
The government is a creation of the people, not separate from ourselves. It is our vote that decides how we as a country move forward. Therefore we are not its subjects, for a tool cannot overrule the master that wields it. In the end, it is not we the government, we the corporations, or we the educated elite, but “we the people.” So go vote.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.