Almost two hundred and fifty years ago, delegations from thirteen British colonies gathered in Philadelphia after deciding that they could no longer continue as subjects of the British Crown. When their grievances went unanswered by the King, they chose a committee to declare their independence from Britain. That declaration described the “unalienable rights” they were given because “all men are created equal.”

Seventy-two years later, in 1848, Seneca Falls, New York, hosted the first women’s rights convention. The women and men who gathered there discussed how women could not continue living in the United States without equal rights, among them the right to vote, and signed a Declaration of Sentiments that proclaimed “all men and women are created equal.” Seventeen years after that, between 1865 and 1870, the United States ratified the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. These abolished slavery and granted citizenship and voting rights to men born in the U.S. This did not mean elections were suddenly free and fair, as Jim Crow laws continued to disenfranchise people of color for another century, until the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. For women, it was not until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, seventy years after Seneca Falls, that most gained the right to vote.

Why is this history lesson important? Earlier this month, we observed National Voter Education Week, a project started in 2020 to make voting information more accessible. In the 2024 election, over 500,000 people in the Charlotte metro area were registered but did not vote. That is enough to fill the Charlotte Motor Speedway five times and then some.

Voting is one of the most essential parts of our democracy. The history I have outlined is reason enough to practice it because the struggle over who can vote has been the subject of hundreds of years of conflict in the United States. Another reason is that voting allows you to make your voice heard by those representing you. Holding elected officials accountable for their choices is vital, and by voting, you do exactly that.

If you are feeling discouraged about voting or politics in general, I would like to offer a few thoughts. If voting feels like too much effort, if you do not have as much time as you would like, or if none of the candidates speak to your issues, make that your cause. Use that frustration as motivation to push for change: advocate for making voting easier, turning Election Day into a national holiday, reforming the voting system, or finding new solutions. By not participating, you are silencing your own perspective. The government only has power through your consent as a citizen, so make your voice known. The harsh truth is that laws are made by the people who show up. Whether you want to be or not, you will be affected by what your local government decides, so why not try to change it?

If you are eligible to vote, National Voter Education Week offers a five-step checklist: register to vote, get to know your ballot, make a plan to vote, understand the process, and share with your friends and family. If you have not registered yet, that is okay. You will not be registered in time for this election, but you can register now to be ready for the 2026 midterm elections.

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Some Tips for the Upcoming Election

If you are already registered and live in North Carolina, you can find your sample ballot here. South Carolina residents can find theirs here. These sites show exactly who is running and give you time to visit resources such as Ballotpedia.org to research candidates. Making a mental note of how you plan to vote before Election Day can help ease any anxiety you might feel.

Now do not let all that hard work and research go to waste. Make a plan to vote! Visit your state or county’s elections website to find polling locations for Election Day. Polls are open in North Carolina from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and in South Carolina from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you are in line when polls close, you will still be allowed to vote. Remember to bring a valid ID.

Even if you do not have much time to spare, being familiar with the voting process will help on Election Day. If this is your first time voting, ask a friend or family member what the experience was like. Some local governments also offer assistance getting to polling places. For example, last year the Charlotte Area Transit System implemented fare-free service for the 2024 general election. You can visit Vote.gov for more information about voting in your area.

Lastly, make sure your friends and family have voted. Help them with any of the steps above, or even carpool to your polling place together. If there is a cause or candidate you strongly support, visit their website to see if there are volunteer opportunities. You will meet new people and strengthen your community.

As local and state governments across the country turn their attention towards Election Day on November 4th, remember that these are the elections that impact you the most. The people you elect will decide whether your precinct’s polling place is closer or farther away, whether that annoying pothole gets fixed, and whether a new park is built near your home. So please, vote, vote, vote!