4 Good Reasons to Go out and Vote in Elections

4 Good Reasons to Go out and Vote in Elections It can be tedious standing in line  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ often for a significant period of time  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ to do something that youre not sure will make a difference. And if youre like many Americans, your day is already crammed full of must-do tasks and errands so you simply dont have time to stand in that line to vote. Why put yourself through it?   Because it often makes a difference. U.S. citizenship grants most the right to vote in American elections, and many new citizens cherish this right. Here are some of the reasons that they stand in line, and why you might want to do so as well.   The Role of the Electoral College   The Electoral College has something of a bum rap, especially over the last couple of decades. Its often said that leaders in the U.S. are chosen by the people in a majority vote, but is that the case with the presidential election? Doesnt the Electoral College interfere with the peoples majority? Yes, sometimes it does, but not very often. Five presidents have been elected to the White House after losing the popular vote: John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, George W. Bush, and Donald J. Trump. Technically, electors are supposed to vote for the candidate who won the popular vote in the state they represent. Population varies by state so the college is set up to accommodate this. California has more electoral votes than Rhode Island because its home to more voters. If a candidate wins a populous state such as California by just a small margin, all the states electoral votes still go to the winning candidate. The result? Lots of electoral votes, but maybe only a few thousand more popular votes. In theory, at least, that candidate may have received only one additional vote. When this happens across several large, populous states, its possible for the candidate with fewer popular votes to win in the Electoral College.   Voting Is Still a Privilege   Regardless of this wrinkle, democracy is a privilege that should not be taken lightly. After all, the Electoral College has prevailed over popular vote only five times and weve had 45 presidents. Many new immigrants know firsthand what its like to be governed by leaders who have not been chosen by the people all the time, not just in isolated elections. This is why many of them come to this country –  to be part of a democratic structure where representatives are elected by the people. If we all stopped participating in the electoral process, our democratic government could wither away. Pride in Your Adopted Homeland   Elections take place at the national, state and local levels. Taking the time to understand the issues and evaluate what each candidate has to offer helps to establish a sense of community and kinship for immigrants with fellow citizens across the nation. And state and local elections typically are decided by a majority of the people.   Its a Responsibility   The USCIS Guide to Naturalization says,  Citizens have a responsibility to participate in the political process by registering and voting in elections. In the naturalization oath, new citizens swear to support the Constitution of the United States, and voting is an integral part of that Constitution. No One Likes Taxation Without Representation   As a U.S. citizen, you want a say in where your taxes go and how this country is run. Voting for a person who represents shared visions and goals for your country is an opportunity to become part of the process.