Vote for Women Today

It wasn’t long ago when African Americans and women couldn’t vote; so today I vote not because it is my right but also because I want to honor the people who fought so hard to make it possible for me to vote. For centuries, everyday citizens pushed to make a difference in our country, to fight for what they believed in which eventually allowed us to have a multitude of opportunities. We should never take for granted the passion, fortitude and actions of our forefathers and foremothers for giving us what we have today.

I remember voting for the first time as a freshman at SUNY Oswego right after I turned 18 years old. I remember placing my vote as a Republican because I was a “business major” and I felt the Republican Party stood for what I was learning and the difference I wanted to make in the world. A decade after that vote, I decided I was going to vote based on how I felt about the candidates after listening to them debate.

Today as a woman who wants to see the world with more equality for women – especially pay equality – my party has changed to “women.” I vote for women no matter what party they represent because I believe women will achieve ultimate equality when we have equal representation in government. I ask my husband and my sons – who can vote now – to consider voting for women if they don’t know anyone on the ballot. “Why not, I tell them? Why not help me make a difference in the world by electing more women to government?” I’m never sure if they will, but I hope they will.

Today I encourage you to do three things – to vote no matter how busy you are or how unimportant your local or state races appear, to vote for women if you don’t know anyone else on the ballot, and to rejoice in the freedoms you have as an American citizen. Don’t forget you count and your vote counts.