DETROIT – Are you voting today? It’s Election Day in Michigan, but with no statewide races and the presidential election still a year away, turnout is expected to be low. Here’s why I never miss a chance to cast my vote -- no matter how “small” the election is.
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On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I was at home watching the “Today Show” as the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I was a writer at Local 4 back then, working nightside on the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
When the second plane hit, I immediately realized I had to get to the station right away. I raced to get dressed and ran to my car. But there was one stop I had to make first.
I had to go vote.
It was Primary Election Day in Dearborn. We were narrowing the candidates to choose a mayor. But it could have been any issue. I never miss an election.
My polling place was empty. The poll workers didn’t have a television and were confused about what was happening.
I gave them a quick summary, cast my ballot in record time and headed for Local 4.
I’ve thought about that morning often. Why did I feel so strongly about still voting in the face of the horror that was unfolding? I always come back to the same answer: I thought it mattered.
For the last twenty years or so, I’ve coordinated the election results for Local 4 and Clickondetroit.com. You know those results you see on the ticker at the bottom of the screen or broadcast in the newscast, or posted on our website? I head up the hardworking team that works through the night to collect those from all of the various counties, cities, and townships.
Years ago, each individual clerk would fax us the results or read the numbers to us over the phone. Wayne County would project theirs using an overhead projector in a media room. One year, we devised a plan to use a digital camera to take pictures of the projections to get the results back to the station more quickly!
Fortunately, times have changed. Nowadays, we collect most of the results from county or city websites and compile them into one place to make them easier for viewers to find. But there are still many nights where we find ourselves talking with an exhausted local clerk over the phone, trying to find out what’s going on and why their results aren’t in yet!
Over the years, I’ve seen countless races decided by a handful of votes. There are even ties sometimes! One local race was decided, as required, by drawing the candidate’s name out of a bowl after both received an equal number of votes.
Since I turned 18, I’ve never missed an opportunity to vote. As a woman, I feel like I owe it to the women who fought so long and hard to win that right for me. How can I let them down?
I also agree with the principle that our vote is our voice. Want a say in who is running the show and what happens in your city, state, and country? Get to the polls, my friend!
It’s common for television stations to run public service announcements urging people to vote in upcoming elections. Someone in local media once told me that he hated to see those spots. When I asked why, he explained that he didn’t want people to vote who didn’t know anything about the candidates or the issues.
As he saw it: “The fewer people who vote, the more my vote counts.”
While I certainly don’t want to discourage voting, I can see his point. I do wish people would do a little more research on the candidates, what they believe in, and the issues they support. I would love to see people dig into the many proposals and make an informed decision.
It is easier now than it ever was before to research the races you care about. There are candidate websites, community forums, and online voter guides. The League of Women Voters does an amazing job compiling candidate responses to important questions. The most important answer is often: “Candidate did not respond to our request.” If the candidate can’t be bothered to respond when they’re still running for a position, how responsive do you think they will be to their constituents if they actually get elected?
These days, I like to take my three children to the polls with me. I want them to see how we vote and understand why it’s important. Two of my kids have friends whose parents ran for office last year. It was fun for them to see names they actually recognized on my ballot!
Voting is a right. It’s also a responsibility and a privilege. One I will exercise until my dying day!
After all, every vote counts. But first, you have to cast it.
Related: Michigan General Election Results for Nov. 7, 2023: Track races in Metro Detroit