In the November 2024, like thousands of other people volunteering with Vote Forward, I wrote letters to strangers in other states, encouraging them to vote.
I wrote,
I vote because I want to make the world a better place, and because I've seen how voting can do that. I've seen how the people we vote for can make life better, from lowering the price of insulin to funding local day care. I vote because it makes me happy to see things change for the better.
Like millions of others, I was crushed by the results of that election - crushed that so many millions of people voted for a man whose contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law made him utterly unfit for any office, but also by the number of people who voted for legislators and state officials who promoted divisiveness and supported policies that would hurt people.
But I was also struck by the unprecedented number of people who enthusiastically volunteered for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz - and, conversely, by the number of people who sat out the election completely, choosing not to vote at all.
In the November 2024 election, turnout was less than 63%. That means that a third of the eligible voters didn't vote.
Voting is one of the ways we can make the world a better place - and there are other ways we can join in, as well.
Voting and engaging in democracy makes me feel good when I see change that I helped bring about, and it makes me feel good when I see the good things others have done.
This site is my place to share ideas and encouragement, to encourage everyone to join me in voting, urging elected officials to take action and thanking them when they do, joining together to register voters, change voting laws, and support one another in making the world a better place.
Democracy works best when we make it part of our lives all the time, instead of just every four years. For anyone who'd like to explore participating a little more often, this site offers resources, encouragement, and actions you can take.
Coming soon:
- Making Democracy a Habit
- Small Actions You Can Take
- Inspiration
