The power of the vote is one that impacts every American citizen. No matter who you are, no matter your race, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or gender identity, the impact of U.S legislation can be seen throughout your everyday life. From the loans you can take out on your first house to the taxation on the apple you purchase at the supermarket, the framework of our society sits on the power of the vote.

The importance of equal representation, rights, and protections for all people in a democratic republic such as the United States. The overruling of Roe v. Wade set a precedent for the nation that none of the rights and protections that people have had granted under the U.S constitution are safe. Legislature protected under the privacy clause specifically, such as the right to same-sex marriage, interracial marriage, and the right to live with relatives, is threatened. However, the current governmental structure of our nation shows that through protest, advocacy, and the writing of legislature we can stand up and change the law; give rights and protections to those who lack such necessities. By being able to better understand the power that each U.S citizen holds, we are able to make change through peaceful protest and unity.

One of the major problems with modern-day U.S politics is division. Instead of voting according to their own personal morals and values, citizens will vote blindly, without educating themselves on the top, based on what bubble their party tells them to fill in. Furthermore, many parties will use hate-based campaigns, where instead of advocating for a person or issue, they will go against that of their opposition. While in moderation this behavior in a world of the post-Regan, media-focused presidency, is considered normal, it has grown to overbearing amounts, causing citizens to not only distrust the other party but the system itself. These two factors are detrimental due to the very fundamental structure of the United States, which has a system of checks and balances to keep balance and can only function with belief in the integrity of the vote. Without these two factors, the U.S governmental structure cannot function, thus the importance of belief in the integrity of the vote, knowledge of the vote’s power and individual choice, and balance. Elections have consequences and every vote matters. So make your voice heard, and cast your ballot. The future of the nation rests in your hands.