The Importance of Voting

Many polling places give out stickers for voting. These stickers are often coveted, and even collected by voters in America. Photo credits: Unsplash

Aspen Hickman, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

On March 3, 2026, many of Watauga’s seniors voted in North Carolina’s primary elections. Voting is an important part of living in a democracy like the United States, and as students turn 18, they can exercise their right to vote and have their voices heard at the local, state, and national levels. 

“Voting is important because it is a way for the people to express their consent as to who governs them. And if you don't vote, then you are not expressing your consent to who has power over your life,” said Sam Vining, a social studies teacher at Watauga High School “I think that it is also a strong representation of a very central American ideal, and that’s the idea that the power of government, the power of institutions, comes from us, the people. We can talk about liberties all day long, but voting is the only way to actually have the leverage to impact the government.”

2026 is the year of the mid-term elections for President Trump’s second term. Seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, as well as some in the Senate. After a controversial start to the Trump Administration, many Americans are eager to have their voices heard this November, either to offer support or rebuke current policies. However, many feel that neither of America’s two main parties align with their political views. 

“If you are having a hard time trying to find someone who matches your beliefs I would definitely recommend doing in-depth research into their qualifications and platforms and you might find someone who works with you more than you might think,” said Aimee Griffiths, a senior at Watauga.

While voting is a vital part of civic participation, it isn’t the only way to make your voice heard. The First Amendment guarantees all Americans the right to protest and petition, and many are using those rights to oppose or support current government actions. One of the reasons people turn to protest and petition is that many feel as though their vote doesn’t matter in elections. 

“I totally understand why people feel that way,” said Vining. “A lot of our states are districted in ways that make people feel like their voice doesn't matter. A lot of the way that our electoral college system works makes it so you may not feel like your voice really has much of an impact. But I think that, when you don’t vote, you don't earn the right to speak on a political issue. You can't have an opinion on politics because you didn't go through the process where you put in your 2 cents over how you want the social contract to look.”

In presidential elections, almost all states are all-or-nothing, meaning that whichever candidate wins a state gets all the electors for that state, while the other candidate and everyone who voted for them get nothing. This system makes those who voted against the winning candidate feel as though their vote had no effect, which can be discouraging.

“It is hard sometimes when you think your vote doesn't matter in the scheme of things. However, it really does. Who knows, your vote might be the one to sway the choice one way or another,” said Griffiths. “Also, in swing states like North Carolina, voting in a big Presidential election is really important because it may flip the electoral college one way or another. Voting is also really good for your mental health. Being able to make a choice for your country feels really empowering.”

National elections aren’t the only place voters can make a difference. Many local positions like mayor, school board, or town council have enormous influence in the communities they govern, but local elections often fly under the radar in favor of national or state races. 

“You may not feel like your vote for a representative or a president might matter, but your vote locally absolutely matters. Just this last primary, we had multiple school board races, multiple county commissioner races that were within like 50 votes,” said Vining. “Our voter turnout wasn't that much in Watauga County. If you just got your neighborhood to vote, that could be the difference between Candidate A or Candidate B winning.