By the time you read this, the election will be TODAY.
The phrases that resonate in your head go from “You’re a nasty woman!” “Build The Wall!” “Make America Great Again.” To more empowering like “When they go low, we go high!” “Don’t Boo, Vote!” “America Is Already Great.”
Election 2016 will go down in history as one of the most bizarre and ruthless Presidential elections in the United States. How did we end up with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is baffling. What is even more baffling is the large number of potential voters who will either abstain from voting or will vote for a third party. We, as Americans deserve more choices. Sadly, there’s much work to be done before there is a thriving third or fourth party contending for the highest position in the American government.
So this is where Latinx, African-American, LGBTQ, women and millennial come into place. These communities will ultimately decide the outcome of the election. It is imperative and beyond a civic duty to go out and vote. Perhaps you do not find either Presidential candidate worthy of your votes, but the ballot includes so many important measures that need YOUR VOTE. These measures will have a bigger impact on your day-to-day life, than the decision of whom the President is going to be (in California alone there are 18 propositions to consider.)
Battleground states.
The states that will play a crucial role in this election (the year 2000 in Florida anyone?) As of October 26, in Arizona, Donald Trump had barely a 1 point lead over Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Clinton had a 7 point lead. Arizona, Ohio, and Utah are three of the states that must be won to get to the White House. In between those three, there’s a total of 35 electoral votes, these votes alone could significantly affect the outcome of which candidate will be named our new POTUS. Texas is another state hard to predict if it will continue to bleed red, or will turn blue. Tejanos, get out and VOTE!
“Don’t Boo, Vote!” – President Obama
The power of YOUR VOTE will define the next four years in this country. Our country. It will affect the future generations of voters, it will decide our next Supreme Justice, it will determine the level of importance given to climate change, it will affect our fellow LGBTQ family, our undocumented hermanos y hermanas, how we will improve racial tension and police brutality. To think that our votes do not matter is preposterous.