Vote – This Could Be the Last Time

I’ve written about voting a lot over the years on this site. I used to be an enthusiastic voter. I have voted in every election, primary, ballot initiative, and referendum that I’ve been eligible for since I turned 18. Lately, I’ve been far less keen on voting. I still do it, but it feels like an exercise in futility. I’ve come to believe that a lottery system would be better than elections. But elections are what we’ve got, so I’ll continue to participate for as long as I can. Unfortunately, I don’t know how much longer that’ll be.

Trump and the Republicans have been trying to make it harder for people to vote for ages now. It’s been alarming for ages now, but it’s nothing new. The run up to this election feels different, though. Neither side is acting particularly enthusiastic about this election. The New York City mayoral race is getting some coverage, but only because of the infighting among Democrats. I can’t even tell you who the Republican candidate is. Other than that, there’s been virtually no coverage. The election is in two weeks, and no one seems to care.

Part of the lack of caring is that it is an odd-year election. Turnout is always low in odd years. I’ve written before about how this has things backwards, but no one listens. This one is even more important than usual. It’s the first election since Trump was elected to his second term. This is our first real opportunity for the people to rebuke MAGA in any meaningful way. The disinterest is baffling.

It is especially baffling when you realize that almost everything Trump and the Republicans have been doing since January has been aimed at chilling participation in our democracy. It has created fear and is setting the stage for an authoritarian takeover. ICE raids may be the most obvious, but deploying the National Guard to American cities, rebranding the military, all the executive orders, and the attacks on the First Amendment are all steps to create a crisis. A crisis is just what a would-be tyrant needs to suspend elections and consolidate power.

So, I’m encouraging you to all go out and vote on November 4th. A true blue wave would send a strong message and create some practical good. It could make the authoritarian takeover harder to accomplish. If you wait for the midterms to send this message, there might not be any midterms to vote in.