As we approach the Primary Election on June 5th, it’s time for an important reminder. There are few things we are required to do in the Land of the Free. One is pay taxes, the other is follow the law.
However, there is a big difference between doing what is required, and contributing to our society as a good citizen. There are a few standards beyond just paying our taxes and keeping our noses clean that we should all strive to meet.
The first standard is voting! It doesn’t matter which party you belong to, how you vote, or who you vote for. What matters is you show up, put your X on that ballot, and let your voice be heard. The only way you can go wrong is by not casting your vote.
As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote, except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
So why are people not exercising the right to vote? The most common dissension is that your single vote doesn’t matter because so many are already voting. There are a lot of people that work every day too, does that mean you shouldn’t have to show up at your job? While nationally we might be a small drop in a lake, locally, we are a drop in a much smaller bucket. Your vote will always count in some way!
You could also argue that choosing whether or not to vote is part of free speech. To me, that is very much like cutting off your nose to spite your face. How can we protect our freedoms if we don’t vote on the issues that might threaten them?
I encourage everyone to get out and vote on Tuesday, June 5th. If you are unsure of where you need to be, or need to make sure you are a registered voter in your district, you can find that information on the Butte Silver Bow website. Conveniently, here is a link! Happy voting!
https://www.co.silverbow.mt.us/187/Elections-and-Voting
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