Just One Vote

I turned 18 in 1967 at a time when I could not vote because the required age was 21. The age requirement was lowered to 18 on July 5, 1971. I turned 22 in September of 1971 but became eligible to vote a couple of months prior. I remember registering to vote and casting my first Presidential ballot in 1976, but do not recall any personal political activity on my part prior to then. I am proud to say that I have been a faithful voter since 1976 and have always believed that one's voice should be heard and not silenced. Right or wrong, red or blue, left or right, for or against, party preference or independent, to be heard and to have our say is the American way. Realizing the power of 'one vote', to vote is a must; to not vote is not an option. To site just a few '1-vote' decisions, consider the following:* In 1910, a Democratic candidate for New York House of Representatives defeated the Republican incumbent by 1 vote. In 1988, in the Massachusetts Governor's Democratic Primary, the losing candidate lost by 1 vote, and it was his own. He arrived at his precinct a few minutes after the polls closed and wasn't able to vote. In 2002, in the Washington House of Representatives Republican Primary, the race was decided by 1 vote. To make matters worse, a friend of the losing candidate admitted that his ballot was never mailed. So apart from speaking my veiws and opinions to others, I have been present at the ballot box which is one of the greatest tools for the exercise of one's freedom of speech as an American citizen. For example, in this polical season, after recieving my Vote By Mail Official Ballot, I voted on 02/06/20 and mailed my ballot the next day more than 3 weeks before the primary. Without question, it greatly matters that we vote and for whom we vote. Our say, our voice, our vote natters. For example. Because of the person I voted for, my vote influenced the release of 52 American citizens in 1981, held hostage in Iran for 444 days. Our vote does not do all that we would like it to do, but it saves lives and does far more than 'a non-casted ballot'. 022520PoSp*Wikipedia