Whether or not you have voted before and how sporadic your participation is couldn’t be more irrelevant. There are many good reasons to vote in general and why we should vote now.   

The Constitution has been torn apart, random and gratuitous insults have been flung at people doing nothing more than struggling to make new lives here, tradition and civility have been laughed at. Each of these and many other offenses against decency and common sense cumulatively mark a permanent change in our nation’s political and social life. The assumption is that we are on a permanent downhill slide. Voting is a response on both the practical (electing better candidates) and philosophic (standing up for what America truly is) levels. 

Thomas Wolfe’s classic novel offers what for my money is the greatest title ever: “You Can’t Go Home Again.” The idea is that change is inevitable. It also is difficult and unsettling. Whether a person is a success or failure rests in how they deal with it. That’s true for countries as well. If the Trump era does anything successfully, it is laying out that challenge. That is perhaps the best of the many good reasons to vote.

The dark challenges of the Trump years are in a way–a deeply ironic way–freeing. Being thrown into the cold water of a new reality in which the verities of the past no longer exist creates opportunities. We no longer are captives of the past. Yes, there can be a slippery slope backwards. But there also can be the start of a triumphant journey forward. An alcoholic hits bottom and has a choice: He or she can die or rise up and thrive.

 Why We Should Vote

If we reject the insanity of the Trump years–especially the first year of the second term–America can heal and emerge stronger. The only things necessary are the bravery and determination to do the hard work necessary to get there.

The Civil War almost broke us. The killing couldn’t be wound back, the horrors couldn’t unhappen. But the war was followed by passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which made slavery illegal at the federal level so that it couldn’t be reinstated by a state. The United States couldn’t go home again, but it went to a better place.

The first step is not assuming that just because Trump has a tremendous amount of statutory authority it is too late. One of the many good reasons to vote is that it is a way of saying that the game is not over. It is not too late if we say it is not too late. It is not up to him or J.D. Vance or Stephen Miller or Russell Vought or Peter Hegseth or Brendan Carr or Tom Homan or Robert Kennedy Jr. or Karoline Leavitt or any of them. It is up to us. Making this statement–to ourselves and to the world–is perhaps the most important reason why we should vote.

There have been some good signs, which Vote This Time will look at soon. They mostly focus on fraying on the part of the Republican coalition and positive election news for the Democrats. One of the many good reasons to vote is to continue and build on this momentum. 

Some people will have the opportunity to vote in special elections to replace folks who have passed away or quit. Those races are vital because they generally are considered gauges of how people feel.

The biggest test before the 2028 presidential election is the midterms, which are about 11 months ahead. Obviously, it’s a bit silly to ask folks to make a plan to do something almost a year ahead of time. But, well, please start thinking about the election, Get any information you need in terms of mail in rules for your area and the location of your polling place. Contact us with any questions. We’ll do our best to answer or put you in touch with somebody who can. 

There are many good reasons to vote. Perhaps the most important why we should vote is that it is a response to the insanity that seems overwhelming now. We can’t go home again. But perhaps we can go somewhere better.