get made. One vote may not seem like much in an election with millions of voters, but it can make a difference between winning and losing. If you still think voting doesn’t matter, then why did so many disadvantaged groups in America work so hard to obtain it? They know it is important because they fought long and hard for the right. Women struggled for decades before they finally gained voting rights in 1920. African Americans were allowed to vote after the Civil War, but many states took that right away from them. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s they gained that freedom to vote back. These groups prove that voting is a valuable tool. No vote means no representation, and they show that this is true.In forty-six states prior to 1971 the minimum voting age was twenty-one, but the 1970 Act of Congress set the minimum age in all states to eighteen. I turned eighteen in August of this year and when I went to get my license renewed I also registered to vote. When the word voting came to my attention I thought only about the big elections such as the presidential election in November. But recently we started a local election for the city, as most of you know the election I am talking about is the bond election. My father and mother both voted and asked me if I was going to vote. My first response was “no way! Why would I vote for that, it has nothing to do with me?” But they brought to my attention that I am now a legal adult in this city and my vote does count. It may not concern me, but the results of this election will affect how my little brother and sister have to go to high school. After realizing this, I went and voted for my first city election. I felt a little awkward in there, but I also felt good about myself. Voting made me feel like I was responsible and mature enough to make a decision that will affect our city. I was proud to say that I had voted and contributed my voice in s...
