Why Should I Vote?
Voting is one of the most important ways people can make a difference in their community! When you vote, you help choose the people who make decisions about things that affect your life directly, including schools, roads, public safety, healthcare, parks, libraries, minimum wage, rights, laws, and many other issues.
Your voice matters, and voting is one way to make it heard.
Voting Gives You a Voice
No matter where you live or what you do, your vote has the same value as every other eligible voter's vote.
When people vote, they help decide:
Who will represent their community
What laws are passed
How public money is spent
What services their community needs
Voting is one way to say what matters most to you to your government.
Voting Affects Your Everyday Life
The people elected to public office make decisions that affect many parts of daily life, including:
Public schools
Roads and bridges
Parks and libraries
Public transportation
Emergency services
Clean air and clean water
Healthcare programs
Taxes
Local elections can especially shape your community for years to come, moreso than presidential elections.
Your Vote Helps Build Stronger Communities
When more people vote, more voices are included in decisions about the future.
Voting helps leaders understand what their communities care about. It also helps make government more representative of the people it serves.
Think about it: if only 3 people out of 10 in a classroom vote on which movie they want to watch, does the winning result really represent the community’s desires?
Voting Is a Right and Freedom
Many people throughout history worked hard to expand the right to vote for us all. Thanks to their efforts, more Americans today can participate in elections.
Voting is both a right, a freedom, and a responsibility. Taking part in elections helps strengthen our democracy.
Every Election Matters
Many people think only presidential elections are important, but local and state elections matter too. We have elections twice a year, every year!
In Pennsylvania, voters help choose:
Governor
State Senators and State Representatives
Mayors
County Commissioners
School Board members
Judges on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
These leaders make decisions that can affect your neighborhood, school, and community every day.
One Vote Can Make a Difference
Some elections are so close in their result, that they are decided by only a few votes. Every ballot adds to the final result.
Even when an election is not close, voting helps show what issues matter to the people in a community.
Voting Is More Than Election Day
Being an informed voter means:
Learning about candidates and current issues.
Checking that your voter registration is up to date.
Making a plan to vote.
Encouraging your family and friends to vote if they are eligible.
Voting is one part of being an active member of your community.
How Can I Get Ready to Vote?
Even if you're not old enough to vote yet, or not yet registered, you can start learning today!
Remember: every election is an opportunity to help shape your community.
When all eligible people vote, our democracy is its strongest.
Your voice is your power. Your power is in your vote. So, when it's your turn to vote, make it count.
