who here has ever tried to make plans in
a large group chat it’s infuriating
right only a few people make suggestions
no one else responds thus you and your
friends are left going to Panera Bread
and those friends who didn’t respond to
completing the entire time you’re left
wondering if you had an opinion why
didn’t you just say something so why am
I talking about group chats and Panera
Bread
it’s the perfect analogy for our voting
in America a little over half of
Americans vote and the rest complain I
noticed this in 2016 so when the 2018
primary came around I did everything in
my power to increase voter turnout I did
voter registration canvassing phone
banking it was my first time voting and
I was fired up unfortunately the rest of
California didn’t share my enthusiasm we
had a voter turnout of 37.5% this isn’t
one bad election or just a problem in
California this is a widespread threat
to American democracy I got to thinking
how could we make our country more
democratically involved more
representative I’ve concluded that this
requires a two-pronged approach we have
to reform voting in America and we have
to reform attitudes towards voting
itself so let’s take a look at some
numbers in the 2016 heated election only
only 56% of Americans voted if we look
at modern history our best voter turnout
is 63 percent this was in 1960 so 63
percent is relatively impressive let’s
put it in an international context in
France is equally turbulent and divisive
2016 election they had a voter turnout
of 65% that was their low for the past
three and a half decades
let’s look at some more democracies in
North Korea in 2014 they had a voter
turnout of they had a voter turnout of
77 percent Sweden has always boasted an
incredible turnout and in 2014 they had
a voter turnout of 87 percent hungry
Norway Denmark all have impressive
turnouts
above 70 percent the reason why this is
is because they have comprehensive
policies targeting voter turnout such as
compulsory voting automatic voter
registration and youth outreach one
commonality amongst all of these nations
with the top voting turnout is when they
vote they all dedicate a day to voting
whether it’s a Sunday or a national
holiday America could certainly stand to
use from these nations could certainly
stand to learn from these nations in
South Korea voting takes place on a
national holiday oftentimes polling
places are schools so families will go
vote together which might explain their
impressive turnout from ages 18 through
29 it’s 70 percent in France they vote
on sundays vincent pons a french
professor from Harvard notes that it’s
always a popular day you can feel when
you walk through the streets there’s
this kind of Republican ceremony that
takes place you see families go vote
together I suggest that we draw from
these countries with the best voting
turnout and I know that here in America
we value individuality and the American
Way so I suggest we target our failing
democracy in a uniquely American way I
propose we make Election Day a holiday
but here’s the twist we celebrate it
like the 4th of July picture this
on a Tuesday hardworking Americans sleep
in they sport patriotic clothing they
take their children to the polls and
they vote once they voted they go to a
barbecue with their neighbors and watch
the election results come through
businesses can even cash in on democracy
too with Election Day deals now you
might think this is overkill or simply
unnecessary
however I would challenge that notion
our dismal voter turnout is not just a
systemic result but also a reflection of
American attitudes towards voting as
Americans we love claiming to be the
first successful democracy a democracy
with only 55 percent participating is
faltering at best
democracy is a Greek word and when
translated it means rule by people not
ruled by some or rule by half the people
our sad voter turnout is not just an
issue of national pride but also an
issue of representation the average
American senator is a 62 year old white
man the average American citizen is a 38
year old minority woman how can we
possibly expect Congress to represent us
if they don’t represent us
demographically if we increase voter
turnout we increase representation this
isn’t some fallacy or some hopeful
thinking this is proven by the voting ax
right of 1965 after its passage more
Latinos voted and more Latinos were
elected more african-americans voted and
more african-americans were elected this
is no coincidence as Americans we have a
duty to vote and unfortunately it’s not
being taught to our young we teach our
young the the national anthem and the
Pledge of Allegiance however we never
teach them the vital importance of
voting so I suggest that we have to
start young if we teach our children to
vote then we can change America if we
give kids the day off for elections they
will look forward to voting if we take
kids to the polls voting will become a
rite of passage
like driving a car if we imbue holidays
with a sense of if we imbue a national
holiday with
elections with pageantry and a sense of
patriotism we instill in our children a
sense of political efficacy as since
that their voice is valued and valid now
you might be wondering why any 18 year
old would care so much about voter
turnout I think it’s safe to say that
regardless of how you voted in 2016 or
didn’t vote we all believe our country
could be better lately I haven’t been
proud of the American government and for
that reason I will continue to canvass
phonebank
registered voters but most importantly I
will vote I will vote in every single
election because I know is the most
important weapon I have in our democracy
democracy is an ongoing battle and it’s
not a fair battle unless we are all
fighting unless we are all voting so I
leave you with this parting image a
Congress that represents America an
American public that believes in its
government and one extra day off work I
hope to wish you all a happy Election
Day eventually but until then let’s make
2018 and every other election count vote
for what you believe in vote for what’s
right vote for your family vote for the
future vote for an America to be proud of
a large group chat it’s infuriating
right only a few people make suggestions
no one else responds thus you and your
friends are left going to Panera Bread
and those friends who didn’t respond to
completing the entire time you’re left
wondering if you had an opinion why
didn’t you just say something so why am
I talking about group chats and Panera
Bread
it’s the perfect analogy for our voting
in America a little over half of
Americans vote and the rest complain I
noticed this in 2016 so when the 2018
primary came around I did everything in
my power to increase voter turnout I did
voter registration canvassing phone
banking it was my first time voting and
I was fired up unfortunately the rest of
California didn’t share my enthusiasm we
had a voter turnout of 37.5% this isn’t
one bad election or just a problem in
California this is a widespread threat
to American democracy I got to thinking
how could we make our country more
democratically involved more
representative I’ve concluded that this
requires a two-pronged approach we have
to reform voting in America and we have
to reform attitudes towards voting
itself so let’s take a look at some
numbers in the 2016 heated election only
only 56% of Americans voted if we look
at modern history our best voter turnout
is 63 percent this was in 1960 so 63
percent is relatively impressive let’s
put it in an international context in
France is equally turbulent and divisive
2016 election they had a voter turnout
of 65% that was their low for the past
three and a half decades
let’s look at some more democracies in
North Korea in 2014 they had a voter
turnout of they had a voter turnout of
77 percent Sweden has always boasted an
incredible turnout and in 2014 they had
a voter turnout of 87 percent hungry
Norway Denmark all have impressive
turnouts
above 70 percent the reason why this is
is because they have comprehensive
policies targeting voter turnout such as
compulsory voting automatic voter
registration and youth outreach one
commonality amongst all of these nations
with the top voting turnout is when they
vote they all dedicate a day to voting
whether it’s a Sunday or a national
holiday America could certainly stand to
use from these nations could certainly
stand to learn from these nations in
South Korea voting takes place on a
national holiday oftentimes polling
places are schools so families will go
vote together which might explain their
impressive turnout from ages 18 through
29 it’s 70 percent in France they vote
on sundays vincent pons a french
professor from Harvard notes that it’s
always a popular day you can feel when
you walk through the streets there’s
this kind of Republican ceremony that
takes place you see families go vote
together I suggest that we draw from
these countries with the best voting
turnout and I know that here in America
we value individuality and the American
Way so I suggest we target our failing
democracy in a uniquely American way I
propose we make Election Day a holiday
but here’s the twist we celebrate it
like the 4th of July picture this
on a Tuesday hardworking Americans sleep
in they sport patriotic clothing they
take their children to the polls and
they vote once they voted they go to a
barbecue with their neighbors and watch
the election results come through
businesses can even cash in on democracy
too with Election Day deals now you
might think this is overkill or simply
unnecessary
however I would challenge that notion
our dismal voter turnout is not just a
systemic result but also a reflection of
American attitudes towards voting as
Americans we love claiming to be the
first successful democracy a democracy
with only 55 percent participating is
faltering at best
democracy is a Greek word and when
translated it means rule by people not
ruled by some or rule by half the people
our sad voter turnout is not just an
issue of national pride but also an
issue of representation the average
American senator is a 62 year old white
man the average American citizen is a 38
year old minority woman how can we
possibly expect Congress to represent us
if they don’t represent us
demographically if we increase voter
turnout we increase representation this
isn’t some fallacy or some hopeful
thinking this is proven by the voting ax
right of 1965 after its passage more
Latinos voted and more Latinos were
elected more african-americans voted and
more african-americans were elected this
is no coincidence as Americans we have a
duty to vote and unfortunately it’s not
being taught to our young we teach our
young the the national anthem and the
Pledge of Allegiance however we never
teach them the vital importance of
voting so I suggest that we have to
start young if we teach our children to
vote then we can change America if we
give kids the day off for elections they
will look forward to voting if we take
kids to the polls voting will become a
rite of passage
like driving a car if we imbue holidays
with a sense of if we imbue a national
holiday with
elections with pageantry and a sense of
patriotism we instill in our children a
sense of political efficacy as since
that their voice is valued and valid now
you might be wondering why any 18 year
old would care so much about voter
turnout I think it’s safe to say that
regardless of how you voted in 2016 or
didn’t vote we all believe our country
could be better lately I haven’t been
proud of the American government and for
that reason I will continue to canvass
phonebank
registered voters but most importantly I
will vote I will vote in every single
election because I know is the most
important weapon I have in our democracy
democracy is an ongoing battle and it’s
not a fair battle unless we are all
fighting unless we are all voting so I
leave you with this parting image a
Congress that represents America an
American public that believes in its
government and one extra day off work I
hope to wish you all a happy Election
Day eventually but until then let’s make
2018 and every other election count vote
for what you believe in vote for what’s
right vote for your family vote for the
future vote for an America to be proud of
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