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+--- Thread: Why it is important to vote, regardless of swing state or not (/showthread.php?tid=268)
Why it is important to vote, regardless of swing state or not - Daisy - Sep 19 2024
This Tumblr post I just stumbled across hits the nail on the head of why it's still worth going to vote, even if you're in a heavy red state: https://www.tumblr.com/pteren/757075182245576704/hey-my-besties-who-live-in-red-states-id-like-you
Quote:yeah, the electoral college means your vote doesn't count unless you win your state. it's a terrible undemocratic bullshit system. it's not going to change before this election,* so there isn't much point in complaining about it right now.
if you hold the belief that there's no point in voting because your voice will just be downed out by a chorus of bigotry- chances are other people in your state feel the same way. and because those people are not voting, it's impossible to know how many of you there are. the reason it's important to vote EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE is to make this number public.
when the minority in a state still goes out to vote:
- other members of the minority party know they aren't alone in their state. this encourages MORE people to vote in the next election
- the majority candidates are forced to divert some of their campaign resources away from swing states to secure a state they were already going to win
- the minority candidates are encouraged to spend some time campaigning in your state instead of abandoning it as a lost cause
- assuming you also vote in local elections, the minority is more likely to win representatives in the house
- who knows there might be so many of you that you fucking flip it by mistake
I really appreciate posts like these being made. It is true every single vote matters. If every single young person out there who wants a better political system actually went out and voted, there would be a change. Perhaps this year none of the candidates fit perfectly what you desire in a political system. Think of it like needing to get to a destination and there are two buses: one bus might get you a bit closer to your destination, the other might take you further away. Wouldn't it be better to take the bus that gets you a bit further along than staying out?
Plus, if enough young voters come out this year, the data will be considered for politicians in the future. You know why policies are made that cater towards the rich and the old? Because old people turn out to vote in droves, and rich people, who are fewer than the majority of the population, use their wealth to suppress and discourage the people's vote. If young people turn out to vote, politicians will start catering to their needs, as they'd need to win that demographic. Change happens slowly. Rome was not built in a day.