Head to Head: Two Seniors express their viewpoints on the importance of voting

By senior Henry Decoursey

For a second, forget where you are right now and imagine yourself in Afghanistan, where the Taliban threatens to murder every woman who tries to vote or run for office. Or Russia, where your vote doesn’t even matter because the results of your election are controlled by your president. You aren’t there, though, you’re here in America, sitting in a classroom at East or maybe in your bedroom at home. You’re told to vote, that it’s a privilege, but do you really understand the magnitude of your ability to vote?

We’ve grown up in a society that flaunts our personal liberties like we are entitled to, but the truth is we aren’t guaranteed anything in this world. Women have only been able to vote for the past 100 years, and it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that all people, regardless of skin color, were given the ability to vote. We are lucky enough to live in a country that allows us to choose who we want to represent us, and if you realize the privilege associated with this, there shouldn’t be a question of “if” you are going to vote this year. You shouldn’t have to be “convinced” to vote by an article in your school paper. Don’t vote because you are told to, vote because you are lucky to be able to. You don’t have to fight and die for your right to vote because you had that right handed to you just by being a citizen. So just vote. Make your friends vote, make your parents vote— educate these people when they say they don’t think voting is important. Whether you vote early, by mail, or in person, you are exercising your civic duty to better your country and have a say in local, state and federal laws that affect your daily life, freedoms and the wellbeing of every American citizen. 

By senior Nick Hoffman

January 20th, 2021 will mark the day former Vice President Joe Biden or President Donald Trump will be sworn into office to serve as president for the next four years. It will also mark the 60th anniversary of one of the most famous inaugural addresses ever. On Jan. 20, 1961, President Kennedy said the now infamous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” This was a direct call on every American to engage in some way to ensure the public good and American success. It was a challenge for every American to give back to their country. 

For some, this means serving in the military, as a police officer, or a firefighter. For others this means working in local government, or holding a political office. But for the vast majority of Americans, voting is their primary contribution to our democracy. 

Voting is one of the fundamental and most important civic responsibilities we have. It is the foundation of democracy and equality.  It is our patriotic duty. No country can claim greatness or equality for its citizens, unless all have the right, and the means, to participate in the democratic process.

 Most importantly, voting allows the American People to hold the government accountable for its actions. The government’s extent of power is dependent only on what the voters are willing to tolerate.  If we don’t like the direction our country is going, we have the ability to make a change. That is precisely what happened in 2016. People were fed up with the D.C. establishment and went to an outsider. We will soon find out if the electorate wants to put an establishment figure back in the White House.  

When voting this year, remember that every vote counts, even though it may not seem like it in a country with 250 million eligible voters. In 2016, less than 4 votes per precinct decided which way the state of Michigan voted in the presidential race. Also remember that we elect politicians to serve us and our community. Be careful voting for someone that advocates more power for themself. They are our representatives, not our leaders.