It is 4:15 AM and I am having trouble sleeping. I have reached the point where I am asking myself is this all there is, is there nothing more I can do to seek a change in the current course of this nation. I have been volunteering for the candidates I support, I have been calling my friends and neighbors to make sure they know why I support those candidates and how they can help. Then I started thinking about the First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”.
In other words; the First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual’s religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government.
As of today we are about 100 days away from the 2020 election and you can verify the actual date here: https://howmanydaystill.com/its/presidential-election-2021 This is a time when all American citizens having reached 18 years of age who come from all walks of life have to opportunity to cast a ballot to choose courses of action for our nation and the state in which each person resides. Are you registered to vote? If you act today there is still time to get registered to vote, if you don’t exercise your right to vote then the rest of us who do vote will simply decide for you. I do hope you will pick up a pen and fill out a form and mail it or simply log in to your state’s election system and register today. It is not hard. Here is the link for Alaska:
https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/
Not an Alaskan? Below is the list for every other state which offers online voter registration:
https://www.rockthevote.org/online/
If you are registered you can also help your fellow citizens by voting absentee this cycle to protect our poll workers and reduce risk of spreading Covid 19 in our community. Many poll workers are senior citizens, and many are unable to work polling places this year. Alaska law permits any registered Alaskan voter to cast an absentee ballot for any reason, here is where to do this: https://absenteeballotapplication.alaska.gov/
If you are young and healthy, please consider being a poll worker this year. Poll workers are trained and paid $ for their time. It is times like these that Alaskans pull together and help their neighbors. Remember that democracy is not a spectator sport and participation is the key to success. Many members of my family served in the US military to fight for and protect our right to vote, many veterans have died protecting that right, please honor those people by doing your part to guide this nation, your state, and your local government into a better future. Whether you think this US President is a misunderstood genius or a complete idiot, whether you think America is headed in the right direction, or U S democracy is swirling the drain of failure, you have a duty to share your view at the ballot box by completing and submitting your ballot.