It’s fall, y’all! And you know what that means? No, not cool weather and changing leaves—we still live in South Central Texas, after all. It means election season. You’re probably feeling overwhelmed and maybe even annoyed by the texts and calls, the signs everywhere, the knocks on your door, and the incessant political Facebook posts. But here’s the thing: Voting is more than just an excuse to leave work early. It’s one of the most important things we get to do. I try to vote in every election, big and small. And there are five reasons why:
1. Because my job depends on it. I practice law in Texas. That means my vote has a direct effect on how well I can do my job. My vote helps to ensure that qualified, competent men and women end up on the bench deciding things about my clients’ futures. My practice of law largely depends on these judges’ rulings, all the way up to the Supreme Court. And though I don’t get to vote at that level, you bet I’m going to make sure my voice is heard when it comes to the judges in the District Court doing the day-to-day work and the judges at the Fourth Court of Appeals reviewing their rulings, because Federal Courts generally pull from these pools for positions on the benches.
2. Because my future depends on it. I live in Texas. If you look at our history, you’ll see we’ve alternated from quite liberal to quite conservative, and because we are Texans, we don’t like being put in a box. Our political history is multi-color. These shifts in politics happen one vote at a time. They don’t happen in one election, and we can’t always see them until we look back over time. Each city or town has their own cycle of political representation. If I want my own personal beliefs to be reflected in my elected officials and in our laws, I have to make my voice heard. I do my one small part to advance and protect the things that are important to me.
3. Because it matters. Many years ago, a friend of mine ran for judge. She did not have the backing of the party machine, so we were basically on our own. Our tiny team—there were three of us, including the candidate—managed to raise about $5,000, run the campaign, and come within about 75 votes of beating a sitting judge. I learned two things: (1) ANYONE can run for office, even if you don’t have big money or current politicians’ support; and (2) every single vote counts. I remember thinking that each of us almost certainly knew 30 people who hadn’t voted. If we had gotten those people to the polls, my friend would be a judge. Local races often result in close-margin wins. And those at the local level are the people and issues most likely to directly affect my day-to-day life.
4. Because I want to set an example for my kids. I turned 18 in an off-year, and I was bummed that I wouldn’t get to vote for anything significant for another year. My birthday falls on Election Day fairly regularly, so I often “celebrate” by voting. I fully acknowledge that this made me a bit of an anomaly among my peers for many years. However, times are changing. Historical changes happening in our country are motivating younger voters. I want to keep that excitement and involvement alive for my kids. Even though they won’t be able to vote for another 12 years, I talk to my kids about the fact that I am voting and why it’s important to vote. And I bring them “Future Voter” stickers, because they are still at an age where stickers are valid motivators.
5. Because I can. Women could not vote in this country until 1920. That right came with literal blood, sweat, and tears. Suffragettes were jailed, beaten, starved, force-fed, ostracized, and ridiculed for daring to believe women should have an equal say in governance of our nation. Still, had I been alive in the 1920s, I likely would not have been allowed to vote, as my family is Hispanic. The Supreme Court did not completely overturn all-white primaries until 1944. To this day, cases are still brought before the courts to ensure that everyone has equal access to the polls. Long before I was born, men and women thought it was important that everyone have a say in his/her government. They fought in the courts, and even in the streets, for that belief. I can vote because they did the heavy lifting to give me that right. My job every day is to make sure that the State’s laws offer protection to my clients. I have a deep understanding of the value of those laws and the people who worked to make sure they are fair for everyone. I vote to honor their sacrifices and hard work.
Are you registered to vote? It’s easy and fast, but you have to do it before October 9th to vote in the upcoming election. REGISTER or make sure you are already registered here.
