2008 Woodie Awards
Ladies, get to the polls next week!
Melissa Pingeton
Issue date: 10/31/04 Section: Viewpoint
- Page 1 of 1
With just six days until Election Day, it is imperative to understand the importance-especially for women-of women.
Since 1972, the number of youth voting has fallen 13% and 42% of United States citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 did not vote during the last presidential election. According to www.wvwv.org, a website geared towards women voters during our last presidential election, 22 million unmarried women did not cast votes. It is the largest group of non-voters in our democratic process. This group of women alone can determine who wins or loses an election.
You cannot just run to the polls and vote for just any candidate. You have to consider all the facts and then determine which candidate will help all United States citizens.
One important key issue for women is reproductive rights. Congress has passed laws restricting abortion rights. This takes away a woman's right to choose, and we are loosing our freedom to do what we feel is fit for ourselves.
Within the next four years, it is possible that up to three Supreme Court Justices will retire. How does this affect us? The President nominates their replacements, and these are the people who will have the final decisions with laws that possibly affect you.
Two other key issues are terrorism and the economy. Our future president has to keep us safe while repairing our country's reputation. We need a president who is capable of doing such things while protecting the future of our country and of ourselves. The president also needs to determine what actions are needed to improve our economy. Currently, our budget deficit is $445 billion. Despite an increase of jobs, most of them are low paying.
In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote. As U.S. citizens, it is in our power to help choose our country's next leader. Women in other countries throughout the world still cannot vote because of laws, while others risk their lives to have a voice in their government.
In a recent issue of Marie Claire we were reminded that all women do not have the right to vote. This past year in April, the Taliban rebels in Afghanistan handed out pamphlets threatening to not only kill women who vote, but their husbands as well. In South Africa, black women are not eligible to vote even though white women have been allowed to vote since 1993. In 1999, the Kuwaiti government rejected a plan to let women vote, however; men are now allowed two votes, one for himself and one (presumably) for his wife.
Ladies, it is important to get to the polls on November 2, 2004 and vote. Women of the past and present have pushed for this right and we, as U.S citizens, are privileged to be able to vote. Many women have been punished for voting, while during our last election 22 million of us did not participate in our country's election. Now is the time to act as citizens and as women. Go vote!
Sophomore
Undeclared
Since 1972, the number of youth voting has fallen 13% and 42% of United States citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 did not vote during the last presidential election. According to www.wvwv.org, a website geared towards women voters during our last presidential election, 22 million unmarried women did not cast votes. It is the largest group of non-voters in our democratic process. This group of women alone can determine who wins or loses an election.
You cannot just run to the polls and vote for just any candidate. You have to consider all the facts and then determine which candidate will help all United States citizens.
One important key issue for women is reproductive rights. Congress has passed laws restricting abortion rights. This takes away a woman's right to choose, and we are loosing our freedom to do what we feel is fit for ourselves.
Within the next four years, it is possible that up to three Supreme Court Justices will retire. How does this affect us? The President nominates their replacements, and these are the people who will have the final decisions with laws that possibly affect you.
Two other key issues are terrorism and the economy. Our future president has to keep us safe while repairing our country's reputation. We need a president who is capable of doing such things while protecting the future of our country and of ourselves. The president also needs to determine what actions are needed to improve our economy. Currently, our budget deficit is $445 billion. Despite an increase of jobs, most of them are low paying.
In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote. As U.S. citizens, it is in our power to help choose our country's next leader. Women in other countries throughout the world still cannot vote because of laws, while others risk their lives to have a voice in their government.
In a recent issue of Marie Claire we were reminded that all women do not have the right to vote. This past year in April, the Taliban rebels in Afghanistan handed out pamphlets threatening to not only kill women who vote, but their husbands as well. In South Africa, black women are not eligible to vote even though white women have been allowed to vote since 1993. In 1999, the Kuwaiti government rejected a plan to let women vote, however; men are now allowed two votes, one for himself and one (presumably) for his wife.
Ladies, it is important to get to the polls on November 2, 2004 and vote. Women of the past and present have pushed for this right and we, as U.S citizens, are privileged to be able to vote. Many women have been punished for voting, while during our last election 22 million of us did not participate in our country's election. Now is the time to act as citizens and as women. Go vote!
Sophomore
Undeclared