{"id":70031,"date":"2023-09-18T15:27:27","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T22:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=70031"},"modified":"2023-09-18T15:27:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T22:27:27","slug":"why-we-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/why-we-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"Why we vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>*Editor\u2019s Note: The \u201cViews from NAU\u201d blog series highlights the thoughts of different people affiliated with NAU, including faculty members sharing opinions or research in their areas of expertise. The views expressed reflect the authors\u2019 own personal perspectives.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-70032 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/profile.jpg\" alt=\"Sara Rinfret head shot\" width=\"199\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2023\/09\/profile.jpg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2023\/09\/profile-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/>By Sara Rinfret<\/h2>\n<h3>Associate Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs &amp; Professor, Politics &amp; International Affairs<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dr. Rinfret is a nationally recognized scholar in regulatory policy, environmental policy and public administration. She has published eight books, several book chapters and more than 40-peer-reviewed articles. Her latest books, out this year, are <em>U.S. Environmental Policy in Action<\/em> and <em>The Environmental Case. Translating Values into Policy<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In many countries across the globe, voting is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/22-countries-voting-mandatory\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">mandatory<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Voting in the United States is a choice for most Americans 18 years of age or older. More than 150 million Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election\u2014a record <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2022\/2020-presidential-election-voting-report.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">turnout<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Yet almost <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/campaign\/561886-whos-not-voting-in-america\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">a third of eligible voters do not vote<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in U.S. elections. Inevitably, voting is an act of civic participation that informs local, state and federal policymaking. In celebration of National Voter Registration Day, we document several reasons why we should register to vote.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why voting matters<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">People fought and died for our right to vote<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The United States Constitution did not originally specify who could vote, leaving it to the states to decide. In most cases, only landowning White men were eligible to vote. As a result, people <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/3423102\/people-died-so-i-could-vote\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">died<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> for our right to vote in the United States. Black men were not able to vote until 1869 and women in 1920, with the passage of the 15<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and 19th amendments.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your one vote matters. <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A myth about voting is that one person\u2019s vote does not have an impact on electoral outcomes. Casting your vote can make a difference in the result of an election. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/closest-presidential-elections-us-history-1544481\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Presidential<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2020\/12\/04\/its-not-just-2020-u-s-presidential-elections-have-long-featured-close-state-races\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">statewide<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> races can be determined by only a few votes.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Because we can.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Voting is a choice and luxury. We can decide who to elect, re-elect or un-elect at the local, state and federal levels. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Understanding the nuances of voting<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Two primary reasons why people do not vote or register to vote are:\u00a0 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> the amount of time available<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> lack of understanding of issues or candidates on the ballot<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To address these concerns, we recommend a series of quick-and-easy resources:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Registering to vote resources: <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Registering to vote should take approximately five minutes and in Arizona can be completed online.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Cambria\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Where can I register to vote?<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vote411.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">guide<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Go to your local post office and complete a voter registration form in-person<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stop by your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coconino.az.gov\/808\/Voter-Registration\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">local election office<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to print information or complete online using their link<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Cambria\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I don\u2019t understand the issues or the deadline to register to vote.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU Student Affairs Office has a helpful website and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vote411.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">voting guide<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each state has its own deadline to register to vote. Locate your state and how to vote by using this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/register-to-vote\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">website<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> or NAU\u2019s helpful <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vote411.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">guide<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-of-student-affairs\/nau-votes-faq\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">I am a student at NAU and want to vote in Arizona, not my home state.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-of-student-affairs\/nau-votes-faq\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">I am a student at NAU and want to vote in my home state, not Arizona.<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"o\" data-font=\"Courier New\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Arizona Secretary of State\u2019s Office offers a Voter Election Guide or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/who-you-can-vote-for\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">USA.gov<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> provides a sample ballot prior to a given election to understand who is running for office, and the ballot issues. These are non-partisan resources (not provided by a political party) to inform our own decision-making. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Regardless of your background, consider taking five minutes to register to vote or encouraging your friends, family, colleagues and neighbor to do so. If you care about your local, state or national community, your single vote does shape the direction of the United States. Voting is an act of public participation, which is essential for a vibrant democracy. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Top photo credit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@element5digital?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Element5 Digital<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/ls8Kc0P9hAA?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/why-we-vote\/\">*Editor\u2019s Note: The \u201cViews from NAU\u201d blog series highlights the thoughts of different people affiliated with NAU, including faculty members sharing opinions or research in their areas of expertise. The views expressed reflect the authors\u2019 own personal perspectives. By Sara Rinfret Associate Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs &amp; Professor, Politics &amp; International Affairs Dr. Rinfret is&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":70033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-views-from-nau"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}