June is fast approaching, which means that the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and the local elections are coming up in the town of Standish, Maine, where I am from and where I vote. Local elections are incredibly important. These are where we vote on town issues that impact us immediately, and choose the people who represent our interests in the town an school district. These people become our contact points for local issues that we care about, which makes these elections vital for the success of our town.
I wanted to share with you an essay I wrote for my Social Impact Initiative for Miss Maine last year about the importance of voting. Casting your vote is a small action with an incredibly large impact, so I feel like this is a very appropriate topic for this site. I hope that I can convince to get registered to vote and cast your vote in every election, whether for town council or president.
"Choosing a topic for my Social Impact Initiative has been a difficult task, since I care deeply and speak passionately about so many things. I believe in funding the arts. I believe that women should have the right to choose what to do with their bodies. I believe that children should able to learn in schools without fear of gun violence. I believe that Black lives matter, that trans lives matter, that LGBTQ rights are human rights, and I have phone banked, marched, and donated to reflect those beliefs. There is not a sweeping solution to all of these issues facing our nation today, but the best way to stand up for all of them is to elect officials who will protect our human rights and create positive, lasting change. This is why it is so important to exercise your right vote.
"Voting has always been important to me on a personal level. Since I turned eighteen, I have voted in every town, district, state, and national election except one (November of 2019, I’m still ashamed that I missed it). Casting a vote is the most basic and direct way we can interact with our government to affect change, whether we are approving the purchase of a new snow plow for the town or selecting the next leader of the free world.
"The right to vote is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the 15th and 19th Amendments, and I believe that it is our privilege and our duty to uphold that right. However, there are laws in place across the nation that make it difficult for every citizen to exercise their right to vote. According to the National Conference for State Legislatures, only 26 of our 50 states (plus Washington, D.C.) allow no-excuse absentee voting, which means in 24 states you are required to vote in person unless a special exception is made. This makes voting less accessible to workers, parents, elderly people, and many other demographics. Voters heading to the polls also face other challenges like voter identification laws, closure of polling places, and bans on same-day voter registration, all of which disproportionally effect minority and economically disadvantaged voters. Our “free and fair” elections are not as free and fair as they should be.
"In Maine, our citizens and the legislators who represent us take elections very seriously. Maine law allows no-excuse absentee voting and same-day voter registration, and a photo identification is not required at the polls. We are one of the first ranked-choice voting states, which I am proud to say I voted for. This allows Mainers to voice our second and third choice preferences so we can elect the candidate supported by the majority of voters. In short, it is fairly easy to vote in our great state of Maine, but it could always be easier… and more fair. That is why, as Miss Maine, I will propose and campaign to make Election Day a State Holiday. This would allow workers to get to the polls without the added worry of taking time off and possibly losing income. I would also propose giving tax breaks or other incentives to companies that give workers time off to vote on Election Day.
"These solutions could and should also be enacted on a national level. Making Election Day a national holiday would allow people in states that do not have no-excuse absentee voting to get to the polls, and would allow them to stay in the long lines caused by the closures of polling places while not having to worry about missing work. This would allow more people to cast their votes. As Miss America, I would also campaign for all fifty states to implement no-excuse absentee voting so that everyone has a chance to make their voice heard.
"Real, lasting change comes does not come from silence. When you use your voice at the ballot box, you can elect individuals who will stand up for your beliefs. And if no one on the ballot stands for what you believe, then maybe it’s time to put yourself on the ballot. I am putting myself on the Miss Maine ballot this year to raise my voice and say what I believe.
"Please go to vote.gov today to check your voter registration status and get ready to vote!"
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