Get Out the Vote (and Vote!)

Life today is complicated and uncertain. Numerous political issues are facing Americans right now and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and disparaging of the entire electoral process. Amidst all the news coverage about the upcoming Presidential election, you might find yourself wondering, “Will my vote even matter?”

The current political environment has more women than ever stepping up and aiming for positions of leadership, including Kamala Harris’s historical campaign to become the first mixed-race female president of the United States. When reporters interview female candidates about top issues, their answers are very different from the men who are running. That’s not surprising since most women and men – with different life experiences and social expectations – see the world very differently.

As a woman, you might take for granted your right to vote as well as your right to ride Harleys, wear pants, and work in a man’s world – unimaginable freedoms in 1920, much less in 1820 – but the process of achieving our right to vote was a battle hard fought. And in many countries, including Canada, women’s suffrage is a more recent accomplishment. 

Most people think that the suffrage movement was just a movement of middle-class white women, but that’s not true. Diverse women were strong participants in the fight to help women win the right to vote. This was detailed in a Smithsonian exhibit exposing the myths surrounding the efforts to grant women the right to vote, specifically focusing on 19 African American women who were critically important in the movement’s success. Unfortunately, their leadership and tenacity are overlooked in most history texts. At this time, it’s more important than ever to encourage and support all of our sisters – young and old and of every background and group – to be part of the political process. When it comes to shaping the politics of our country, every woman’s voice matters.

Being involved in politics isn’t easy for women today because they are busy juggling a range of roles and responsibilities. Many modern women are now part of the “sandwich generation” – they are taking care of elderly parents while nurturing their teenagers. They are working longer and harder days than ever before. Countless women are also retaining family responsibilities post-retirement and into grandparenthood. With so many demands on a woman’s time, it’s easy to become complacent, especially if the candidate doesn’t excite her. But it’s important to realize that bread and butter issues are typically on the ballet as well. Concerns including inflation, the cost of childcare, the cost of housing, the cost of health care, gun control and background checks, international wars, the insertion of extremists onto school boards, and women’s reproductive rights are all affected by every election. Many women might think it doesn’t matter if they vote or not but every vote makes a difference in the quality of life they experience.

Looking beyond the personality of each candidate is important. It’s a good idea to take the time to read about the candidates’ positions, perhaps attend a forum to see how candidates handle questions in real time. Ask yourself: Are they responding to the question I just asked, are they being evasive, or just phoning it in? Do I trust them? Are they smart? Do they resonate to my concerns?

Polling expert Laura Santhanam reported on PBS News Hour that 22 nations around the world make voting mandatory for their citizens, often starting at age 18. Those who don’t vote must pay a fine! Remember that the people who live in authoritarian countries don’t get a say about who should run their governments but we do. Voting in the United States is a privilege and not something to be taken lightly.

An old TV ad once told us: Try it, you’ll like it. Even as a busy woman juggling roles, you can participate in politics by taking baby steps. Consider these options:

1. Write postcards to support the most respectable candidates, especially in contentious campaigns in other cities and counties. Have a Postcard writing party!
2. Make regular donations to a candidate whose positions you endorse (…no amount too small!).
3. Put out a lawn sign for a candidate you support.
4. Make “Get Out The Vote” calls to voters from the comfort of your own home.
5. Ask older neighbors if they need rides to the polling place.
6. Sign up to vote by mail, which is a “no excuses” strategy.

Once you take the time to get involved in politics and learn how things happen in government, you might decide to run for office yourself, and then you’ll really want to get out the vote! To quote suffragist Susan B. Anthony, “There never will be complete equality until women themselves elect lawmakers and make the laws!”

Author’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Time for a Check In

Take this little quiz to realize whether you take full advantage of your right to vote, opportunities to lead, and all the political processes that are available to you as a modern woman:

What was your score? And what did the survey reveal? More YES answers mean you’re engaged with politics in meaningful ways that will represent women’s issues. Did the survey motivate you to become involved in the upcoming election cycle? There’s no time to waste because March 3, 2020 is the Presidential Primary and November 3, 2020 is the Presidential election.

Kudos to you if you checked many boxes! After all, for our democracy to be effective, society needs 50% of the population – including women like you- to get involved in political life before any election and vote. Are you ready for the ballot? You can participate in political processes at any and every level. Thanks to the suffragettes, we women have a range of political and leadership opportunities. The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus advised us to “Persist in your efforts. Resist giving into distraction, discouragement, and disorder.” I say “persist and resist” the temptation to take democracy for granted!