Nobody has to rock my vote
In Cook County, yesterday was the last day to register to vote, but the good news is that there is a new grace-period. So if you haven’t registered already, do it now. For people in other counties, please register while you still can as well. And although I do care for what candidate you would vote, it is not my business and you should still register, even if I don’t agree with you.
As a permanent resident, I cannot vote in the United States, and that kills me. Not because of who would receive my vote or who would win, but purely because of the principal of voting.
Of all that has been said about why you should vote I could probably make a compelling case that would persuade you to vote. I am not going to do that; you should vote, period. I know why I should vote, but explaining why I do vote goes beyond the rational. It might be as simple as “it makes me feel good.”
I remember the excitement of the first election in which I could vote. I thought, maybe somewhat naively, that I could make a difference. I had just returned from Austria and I was ferociously researching the party platforms and catching up with the news. I wasn’t old enough to vote in the 1998 election, but I closely followed that one in the news and discussed it with others, so I had at least some formative idea. I had also been quite involved in the startup of a youth chapter in municipal politics, so you get it; the enthusiasm was long present.
Little did I know that the 2002 election turned out to be the most dramatic election the Netherlands had ever witnessed. With the murder of Pim Fortuyn, his controversial party gained 26 seats in its first election. Even though the results of the election were—in my humble opinion—quite discouraging for the democratic process and the country in general, it still made me feel good to have voted.
The Cabinet fell just a short while later, not entirely unexpectedly. I was living in London at that time, but I made sure my vote was counted in the subsequent election in 2003. Coming November, I might not get to vote in the United States, but the Netherlands is also gearing up for elections. Once again, I will vote. And as a first, this one only takes a simple click of the mouse. (Seriously people, it is becoming really hard to come up with an excuse not to vote).
I have voted in two general elections, one European election, one municipal election (I couldn’t vote in the last one), and in the European Constitution referendum. Even if there were times the results weren’t to my liking, every time it made me feel good to have voted.
Now on to United States citizenship; nobody would have to rock my vote.
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