A young person recently asked me, “Will my vote count in the Aug. 25 and November elections? There’s so much talk about election fraud, manipulated voting machines, and rigged elections. How do I know my vote will actually be counted?”
It was an honest question – one that deserved an honest answer. I told the young person our election system is not perfect, but election officials, courts, audits, recounts, and investigations over many years have repeatedly shown that while isolated cases of fraud have been found, there is no evidence widespread election fraud has changed the outcome of a U.S. presidential election. Elections are administered by the states, with thousands of local election officials working to ensure ballots are counted accurately and securely.
After our conversation, though, I found myself asking a different question: How many other young people are wondering the same thing?
For much of my life, I never questioned whether my vote would be counted. I registered to vote when I turned 18 because I believed it was both my right and my civic duty. Like many Americans, I voted because I trusted the process, even when I didn’t always like the outcome.
There were years, however, when I became politically apathetic. I wondered whether anyone in Washington was really listening. Campaign promises were made and forgotten. It sometimes felt as though ordinary citizens had little influence once Election Day was over. Looking back, I think many people of my generation felt the same way.
Today, I see something different. I meet young people who genuinely want to become involved. They ask thoughtful questions. They read, do research, and they care about the future of their communities and their country. They want to vote because they want to make a difference. What concerns me is the greatest obstacle is no longer apathy; it is fear. Fear that their vote won’t matter, it won’t be counted, and that the system is so broken participating is pointless. This is a dangerous place for a democracy to find itself.
As citizens, we should always ask questions about how our elections are conducted. Transparency, accountability, and continual improvement strengthen public confidence. There is nothing unpatriotic about wanting elections to be as fair, secure, and trustworthy as possible. But asking questions is different from giving up. Voting is more than a constitutional right. It is one of the few moments when every eligible citizen has an equal voice. Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, well-known or anonymous, your ballot carries the same weight as every other ballot.
If you’re voting for the first time Aug. 25 or Nov. 3, I hope you’ll research the candidates and issues. Vote for the people who best represent your values, your principles, and your vision for the future. Then continue paying attention after the election. Hold those you elect accountable. Democracy does not end when the polls close.
To every young person who wonders whether to vote, my answer is simple: Yes, your voice matters. Don’t let fear convince you it doesn’t.
One of the greatest responsibilities we share as Americans is participating in our democracy. Regardless of political party, we all have a stake in preserving public confidence in our elections and encouraging the next generation to take part. Democracy is strongest not when we all agree, but when we all participate.
Cheryl Leeds is a Cherokee Nation citizen, family historian, and community volunteer in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with a Master of Arts in Communication Arts.