Women in the United States take seriously their role as engaged citizens — something that is evident by data that shows in the 2016 presidential election, 63.3 percent of women voted as opposed to 59.3 percent of men. Even though women have outnumbered men at the polls in every presidential election since 1980, there is more to be done to honor the work and sacrifice of the suffragettes whom we must thank for this right.
We know we can do better for a nation founded on the cry for representation.
Today, while 86.8 percent of U.S. citizens are registered to vote, actual turnout languishes at an average of 55.7 percent for presidential elections and far less for municipal elections. When comparing U.S. voter turnout to other developed countries, we see Americans rank 26th out of citizens from 32 nations in major elections.
Apathy is not an American value.
The many battles fought to bring democracy to the reach of white, land-owning male citizens, then to male nonwhite citizens, then to women — and to those disenfranchised because of Jim Crow-era laws and more — must be honored by each citizen by way of casting a ballot in November and every other election we are eligible to take part in. I am proud to say I’ve never missed an opportunity to cast a ballot in any election — a right won thanks to those who spoke, organized and marched for it.
This election season certainly is like no other in our history, and there are clear challenges to seeing every eligible elector cast their ballot. Americans, though, are a people battle-tested and up for the challenge.
I call upon every citizen to help us honor each of our ancestors who fought for and won their place on the voter rolls by ensuring you are registered, you are informed and you are prepared to let your voice be heard in November, and in all future elections.
Know the deadline for registration and for requesting a mail-in ballot if your state encourages the practice or you wish to take advantage of it for your safety. Or, make sure you know your physical polling place, as some have been or will be changed in the face of the pandemic, and schedule ample time to wait if necessary to cast your ballot in person.
We cannot allow disenfranchisement to happen today after such hard battles were fought to extend this right to all, and must call especially on those entrusted with the responsibility to maintain our democracy to do so with every citizen in mind.
We must also do our part.
In the era of information overload, it is imperative for each citizen to use reputable sources, such as the League of Women Voters website and print materials, to learn more about the candidates who will appear on our ballots and ensure you’re making an informed decision.
Fiscal responsibility is a huge component to endurance, and we stand firmly on the side of it, but we realize responsible choices sometimes come with a price tag.
Decisions to spend billions, let alone trillions, are tough. Knowing how we will pay back the money allocated today though, helps ground our reasoning. We must invest where we will see return today and far into the future, when generations not yet born will help heal an economy stressed by this virus.
As such, we must invest in infrastructure and technology that will allow us to work, learn and live today and build a stable economy and educated, workforce-ready individuals for the future. Simply stated – broadband is essential. It must be part of the next package and the next until the digital divide is erased.
We call on both parties and the president to include in the current package broadband expansion and relief, or to quickly bring to the floor a package that will address the vital infrastructure and funding for broadband expansion.
Betsy E. Huber is the president of the National Grange, America’s oldest rural and agricultural advocacy organization, and serves as a member of the FCC’s Precision Agriculture task force on the working group looking at broadband deployment.
She wrote both opinion pieces, which I excerpted.
Meredith Machen
League of Women Voters of New Mexico
Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy