We make decisions every day—some big, some small, and some that change our lives forever.
- Getting married
- Having a child
- Choosing a career
These are all life-changing decisions.
I’d suggest that deciding whether or not to vote in the next election is just as life-changing.
Why?
Because voting is the most powerful way to tell your elected officials what matters to you—and what direction you want them to take whether that’s at the city, state, or national level.
Your Vote Matters
Not only does your vote matter, but it is a powerful tool for change.
Don’t believe me? Just take a look at what happened in November.
The votes cast in the last presidential election are changing not only the course of our country, but the course of your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Why?
Because people were angry at the direction our country was heading under Joe Biden, they rallied around Donald Trump’s campaign promises—and he won. Now, those campaign promises are becoming policy.
Still, I’ve heard people say their vote doesn’t count, so they don’t bother.
But that’s simply not true.
Consider these facts:
- In 2000, Al Gore lost the White House by just 537 votes.
- In the 2017 Virginia House of Delegates race, the election ended in a tie. Officials pulled a name out of a bowl to declare a winner. That winner gave Republicans control of the State House by one seat. One more voter could’ve changed that outcome.
And regarding the most recent presidential election: while Trump won, it was not by a landslide.
- More people voted for someone other than Trump than for Trump.
- The total number of combined votes for Harris, Kennedy, and others running for President were greater than those for Trump.
- His margin of victory over Harris was just 1.5%—the fifth smallest presidential margin since 1900.
Would you call that a mandate?
Your vote matters.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act
And yet, some say our right to vote is under attack and threatens our democracy.
On January 3, Republican Representative Chip Roy of Texas reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, the “SAVE Act.” If enacted, it would require all voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship—in person—when registering or updating their voter registration.
Accepted documents would include:
- A birth certificate
- A valid U.S. passport
✅ Michigan residents with an enhanced driver’s license (with the gold star) could use that as proof of citizenship.
Critics say the bill would create unnecessary difficulties—particularly for women who change their names after marriage or divorce. Roy dismissed those concerns as “absurd armchair speculation,” saying the bill allows applicants to provide other documents in case of discrepancies.
But Ceridwen Cherry, legal director at VoteRiders, disagreed.
“It would indeed create barriers to voter registration for many married women.”
An estimated 69 million women have changed their names after marriage. For these women, their current legal name would not match the name on their birth certificate. As a result, they could not use their birth certificate to register or update their voter registration.
Wendy Weiser, Vice President for Democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice, added:
“The provision cited by Roy was a weak one and does not provide a meaningful failsafe for married women.”
She also noted that the bill makes it a federal crime for election officials to register someone without documentary proof of citizenship.
That could scare officials away from registering voters—especially if documents don’t perfectly match.
How many election officials do you think would be willing to risk jail time and steep fines to register someone whose documentation does not match their current name?
What About Your Passport?
Less than half the people in our country have a passport. And getting one costs around $200.
At a recent town hall in Bedford Township, Rep. Tim Walberg was asked if the SAVE Act could lead to voter suppression.
When someone said many people can’t afford $200 for a passport, Walberg replied:
“Well, they shouldn’t be voting.”
His statement made national headlines. While he later tried to walk it back in an interview with Sean Hannity, he said what he said.
I’ll leave it to you to decide if the SAVE Act will lead to voter suppression.
Gerrymandering: Another Form of Suppression?
Every 10 years, states redraw their congressional and state legislative maps to reflect population changes.
It’s widely recognized that politicians—from both sides—use this process to:
- Increase their party’s advantage
- Make it more difficult for opponents to win
- Dilute true representation of the people
This practice is called gerrymandering.
These maps zig-zag across districts like a 5,000-piece puzzle, creating artificial voting blocks that don’t reflect real communities.
Do you think that amounts to voter suppression?
Your vote matters.
Lenawee County Has Work to Do
When you vote, you’ve made a decision on your candidate and the policies they support—policies that will change the course of your life.
From the economy to the border to reproductive rights to climate change—the votes your elected representative will cast will affect every aspect of your life.
And yet, in Lenawee County this past November:
- Only about 55,000 residents voted
- Compared to 82,000 registered voters
That’s more than 27,000 of us who chose not to vote, who chose to let the course of our lives be determined by others. Those 27,000 sat back and chose to say…nothing.
| If you were among the 55,000 who voted in the election: | If you were among the 27,000 who did not vote: |
| Thank you! You made a difference for yourself and our community. | Please make a different decision in the next election. |
Whether voting in a presidential election, congressional election, or for your local school board, voting is a fundamental right that allows you to shape the future of your country, your state, and your city for you and your loved ones.
Your vote matters.
Here’s Where to Start
The League of Women Voters has a non-partisan website where you can:
- See what’s on your ballot
- Learn candidate positions
- Check your voter registration
- Find your polling place
- And more
🗳️ Visit: www.vote411.org
(Available in English and Spanish)
Your Vote Matters
It is the responsibility of every eligible citizen to cast a vote. So make a decision. Decide to vote in every election.
Because if you don’t, you’re giving up one of your most precious freedoms: the freedom to have your voice heard.
Decide the course you want your life—and the lives of your loved ones—to take.
Stand up for what you believe is right. Vote your conscience.
No question about it—your vote matters.