If voting wasn’t important, it wouldn’t be under attack.
It’s officially election season. The Denver general elections are on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The voting timeline has begun, early mail-in ballots were released to all registered Colorado residents. To learn more about the voting timeline. It is important to go out and point because your voice matters. Especially in a critical time when this fundamental right is under attack.
This election season, concerns over potential voter intimidation from federal agents have drawn significant attention. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents are showing up at polls and targeting people of color. The city of Denver filed a federal lawsuit against ICE with civil rights groups that claim this aggression goes against the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Despite being U.S. citizens, some people are in fear of being questioned by immigration authorities at polling lines. The influx of racial profiling is deterring voters from participating, thus hindering change from happening within cities across Colorado and the nation. Don’t let the term “midterm” fool you, these elections are just as crucial as the primaries. Your midterm vote gives you the power to elect officials who (who will shape policies at every level of government) will make changes in different levels of government. There are 14 statewide measures on this ballot that need to be taken into consideration as well. Your vote will directly decide important laws and initiatives for our state.
Voting is an important responsibility to hold; it is the foundation of our democracy, and change can only happen with the power of the people. We can’t let our voices be silenced; we can’t allow our opinions to go unnoticed and unheard. This isn’t just some motion we are doing; it is deliberate, and the outcome can be life-changing for some individuals.
Democracy is needed to keep our nation stable. If we do not put our opinions into action, then the government obtains more centralized power. For some of us, this will be the first time we are putting our voices into action, and I, for one, am excited that I will be able to exercise my Constitutional right. Without the public voice, no change will happen. Every citizen’s voice matters. These fundamental rights outlined in the Constitution are being infringed on. It is important that people have the choice to express their opinion and vote in favor of what they believe.
Our generation is capable of changing the world; right now is not the time to silence ourselves. This is your one chance to make a difference; why not take the time to do it?
Are you registered to vote? It’s not too late, Colorado voting registration ends on Oct. 26. Learn more at Go Vote Colorado.
Not from Colorado? It’s not an issue. Students currently residing in Colorado can vote in this election too, as long as they are registered.
Stay informed, remember your rights and go out and vote.
