Our View: Not that you need the push ... Vote

There’s just a few things we expect from citizens in American: respect the law; pay your taxes; and vote.

We feel that voting is the most important of those expectations. That’s because your vote will control who will be deciding which laws and taxes elected leaders implement. It’s your chance to have real input into the system. And it’s your civic duty. Democracy will fail if people don’t vote.

While our region enjoys a fairly engaged citizenry who participates in democracy, there are still plenty of people who don’t vote for various reasons. We understand those who have become cynical with the system and believe their vote doesn’t matter. It’s hard to see how your one vote has any real effect in the election where, for example, nearly 3 million other Minnesotans voted in the 2016 general election. But your vote does matter. While we are all unique, we whittle down our voting selections to two or so major candidates, and an election is the best system we have to determine which candidate best reflects the population. You are taking part in that system.

We also understand those who are just fine with things the way they are, and don’t feel it’s necessary to vote. It’s true we have things pretty good in America, despite the dire warnings we get from campaigning politicians. And we can pretty safely say that things will continue to be pretty good no matter whom we vote for. But the devil is in the details, and when it comes down to issues that affect us personally or we feel strongly about, there is no better way to let our feelings be known than by voting. Plus, if you don’t vote, you really sound silly when you complain about how things are. Don’t waste your chance to have a say in our society.

Finally, voting is not just your right, it’s your duty. A democracy will wither and die if it loses the right to vote. If enough people stop voting, that’s what will happen.

Fortunately, Minnesotans have practiced what we are preaching for a long time. With a roughly 75-percent voter turnout in recent presidential elections, we can be proud that most of us understand and respect our duty to participate in elections.

If you haven’t already voted, see you at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3.