Voting is a privilege that should not be wasted or abused

My daughter will turn 18 on Nov. 5. Right before she left for college, I made sure she registered to vote. As both her parents are politically active, although in different parties, she understood the importance of her participation, even if she couldn’t make up her mind as to what party to select and chose "Undecided" . . . for the time being.

The right to participate in the selection of our government representatives is a privilege that had become the object of an increasing amount of apathy. Apathy that even the close presidential election of two years ago did little to change.

There is no one alive today who remembers the struggles of the early 19th century to secure the voting right for a small segment of our very young nation’s population. In 1870 the 15th Amendment to our Constitution gave blacks the right to vote. This amendment was the first victory of the civil rights movement. It was the last line that truly turned slaves into free men.

Not too many of us were a part of the movement of the early 20th century when the women suffragettes, the first true champions for women’s equality, fought, petitioned and finally won the right to vote in and not just clean out the voting booths.

In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women of every race the chance to realize the dream now realized by Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and many others.

Until 1971 you had to be 21 to vote. Those of us who turned 18 that year remember the petitions, the picket lines, the passion of the movement. We took to the streets, sat on the steps of city hall and marched to Washington demanding to be a part of our government. It was only 31 years ago that the 26th Amendment was adopted, and on that day we took to the streets again, in celebration for the victory we had won.

This past weekend I passed two volunteers who were trying to register shoppers at The Oaks. Their goal was to sign up four people an hour. By 6 p.m., they weren’t even close. Have all of us who worked so hard for over two centuries done so in vain?

We’ve all heard the excuses why voter turnout is so low, but they are all just excuses. There is only one reason not to cast your ballot. Ignorance. Ignorance of the issues, the candidates and their party platform.

Along with the power of the vote comes responsibility. Those who feel this task is too great should stay away from the polls. To be aware, informed and involved is the responsibility of every American. To vote is an honor and a privilege that millions have fought long and hard to acquire, myself included.

The last person to fill out a registration form told me he had only recently become a citizen. After completing the form, he handed it back to the volunteers with tears in his eyes and said, "Now I really am an American!"

May we all feel such pride as we celebrate our American privilege and vote on my daughter’s birthday!

Raven West

Americanism Chair

Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge #2477