Voter Suppression Should Not Discourage You from Using Your Voice

I have learned over the years that voting is the most important way for people to get their voices heard. Voting tells elected officials and representatives what their citizens and constituents need from them. Democracy can function properly this way. For our country and world to move forward, everyone’s voice should be valued and taken into consideration when making impactful decisions.

This summer, I became more interested in elections and voter suppression. I knew there had been evidence of voter suppression during the Georgia gubernatorial election of 2018; as part of a project, I did some further digging. I knew that the election had been between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp, the secretary of state at that time. I learned the role that secretaries of state play in election activities: overseeing voter registration, preparing ballots, maintaining the statewide voter database, among other things. However, managing these duties while running a campaign for office can present a conflict of interest. At this point I learned about the various methods of voter suppression. For example, closing poll places. States can close polling places without federal approval. This can happen without notice, and can result in longer lines at open polling places or longer travel time for some citizens.

Voters being removed from the rolls can be another form of suppression. Voters are typically removed if they do not vote for a certain period of time, if their home address changes, or if they have died. However, many states have purged eligible voters from the rolls due to inaccurate data, showing that voter purges are not always a reliable system.

Another example of suppression are voter ID laws. Some states require specific photo identification issued by the government. However, these IDs aren’t always accessible to everyone due to the cost of the identification itself, or through the cost of obtaining the documents necessary to receive that ID.

These are only some of the methods through which voters can be suppressed. The problem is that these tactics disproportionately affect minorities, people in poorer communities, even youth.

When I learned about these methods, it felt discouraging. Voting is an important part of democracy because it allows citizens to express themselves to the government. However, this does not mean that the voices of minorities, poorer communities, and youth are unimportant. As a matter of fact, the voices that suppression tactics are geared towards are powerful and diverse. Diversity helps create long-lasting change that benefits more than one demographic: more than one social class, more than one ethnic or racial group, more than one state or country. So while voter suppression tactics exist, it is my hope that they do not convince people that they are unimportant, or that they should not vote. It should encourage people to do the opposite.

The funny thing is that I am only sixteen. I cannot vote in elections yet. The election in November will shape my future, and the future of the generations after mine. There are so many issues at stake: race relations, public health, climate change — and yet I cannot vote to help shape my own future.

I’m calling on young people and minorities to register to vote and cast their ballots this November. According to Rock the Vote’s website, “Millennials and Generation Z will comprise nearly 40% of American voters” in 2020. Youth have the potential to sway the results of the election due to their sheer population size. Don’t feel as if you have to follow the crowd, and vote for who your friends and family are voting for; no one knows how you cast your ballot except you. I ask not only that youth register and cast a ballot, but that they stay informed. Being aware of events allows people to think independently and make their own decisions. Elected officials and representatives make decisions that will affect your future and everyday life. Do you care about climate change? Human rights? Education? Any of the other pressing matters that the world faces constantly? The only way you represent yourself and your values is by voting. As the future of this country and this world, young people are powerful, and their voices have the ability to create change.

And to young people like me, who cannot vote yet: our voices are important, too. We also have ways to make our voices heard — through social media, writing letters to our elected officials and representatives, and educating and informing our peers. Staying informed is equally as important for us, so that when we gain the privilege of voting, we can make educated and wise decisions that will change our future for the better.

I have hope in our power to create change. Let’s use that power in the best way possible.