Make a Difference
Get Out and Vote!
By Mellisa Blackburn

It would be easy to blow off Election Day — Tuesday, November 4 — as another day to wash the dishes, fold laundry and watch our favorite television show. We wonder if our vote makes a difference anyway.

The 19th Amendment says it can.

On Aug. 18, 1920, Harry Burns — a 24-year-old Tennessee legislator — listened to his mother and voted yes, making Tennessee the last state necessary to ratify the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote.

This marked the successful culmination of a 72 year battle for women’s rights. Thousands of ordinary women dedicated their lives to fight for equality in a male-dominated society.

“I think, with never-ending gratitude, that the young women of today do not and can never know at what price their right to free speech and to speak at all in public has been earned,” said the 19th century suffragist Lucy Stone in 1893.

As women, our right to vote was a long and costly battle. We honor our mothers and grandmothers when we step up to the voting booth and cast our ballots. We also set an example for our children by participating in the elections.

So what’s the next step?

The first thing you need to do is make sure you are registered to vote. Register to vote online (see resources below) or go to your local county courthouse and fill out the necessary paperwork. In most states you have to register at least 30 days before Election Day.

Next, find out where you go to vote. You should receive your polling place information in the mail after you register, but double-check before Election Day as it can change at the last minute.

It’s important that you get educated on the candidates and issues represented, for both the national and state levels, so you can make an informed choice. Below, you’ll find a list of non-biased websites with voter information. Your official state website is a good place to find out about local candidates and issues.

Mark your calendars for November 4 and don’t forget to vote. If you bring your children with you, go during the mid-morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the rush. It’s a good learning experience for your children and opens the door for some great discussion.

If you have very young children, try to find child-care as the polling locations aren’t usually child friendly. Maybe you can swap child-care with another mom on that day so you both can go vote!

“We live in one of the most blessed and privileged nations on earth,” said Madalyn Snyder, a MOPS Coordinator in Lakewood, Colorado. “We have a responsibility, as well as a right to participate in our government.”

Register to vote:
www.lwv.org
www.declareyourself.com

Voter Education and Resources:
www.votesmart.org
www.pewforum.org
www.wopular.com/politics
www.vote-usa.org