Democracy Only Works When We Participate

Voting is one of the simplest and most effective ways we can have a say in what happens in our own communities, our state and our country. Choosing not to participate in elections is your right as an American, but it is also a choice to let others decide who will lead and what direction we take. National Voter Registration Day is next Tuesday, Sept. 15, a reminder that elections are bigger than the national political spectacle that so often dominates the conversation. Some of the most important decisions affecting our day-to-day lives are made in our own town halls. And all elections, especially local ones, shape our future.

It’s encouraging to see more young people taking an interest in voting and getting more involved in the political process in recent years. My hope is that interest develops into passion and that civic engagement becomes the norm rather than the exception. Whether you are voting for the first time or have been voting for decades, your participation absolutely matters. Elections are decided by people who take the time to show up and make their voices heard.

Many people today are asking why things are the way they are. Why are taxes so high? Why does a certain policy keep getting passed? Why does our community face a particular challenge? These are good questions, and I hope people continue to ask them. But if we want to have a say in the answers, we have to pay attention to who is making those decisions, and, most importantly, we have to vote. If you want to influence the decisions that affect you, there is no more direct way to do it than by casting your ballot.

That starts at the local level. Your mayor, town supervisor, county officials, state legislators and members of Congress all make decisions that affect your family, your quality of life and your wallet. When so many New Yorkers are struggling with the rising cost of living, whoever holds those positions is consequential. The people in those positions are there because voters put them there. I should know—I am one of them. If you do not like the direction things are going, voting gives you an opportunity to do something about it. If you do like the direction things are going, voting gives you an opportunity to support it. Either way, your voice only counts if you use it.

If you are not registered to vote, National Voter Registration Day is a good time to take care of it. You can register, check your registration or update your information at nationalvoterregistrationday.org/register-to-vote. I encourage you to take a few minutes, learn about the candidates and the issues and make a plan to vote. Everyone has something to say about what is happening in their own neighborhoods and even 2,000 miles away across the country. It’s time to turn thoughts and words into action: voting is how we do that.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at [email protected]. You may also find me, Assemblyman Will Barclay, on Facebook or X at @WillABarclay.