Our days begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Today is election day – a day of duty and privilege. I have to admit that over the past 42 years, I haven’t voted in every election to come my way.  I always voted in the major presidential races and usually in the November general elections. It is the primary elections I sometimes abandoned.

I often become weary with all the phone calls,  television commercials, and advertisements that arrive at my door during the campaigning season. I don’t have a “winning” track record when it comes to my election day choices, so why bother?  How can my one vote make a difference anyway?

Well, recently I was listening to KYW News Radio in Philadelphia.  Larry Kane, a beloved news anchor, ran a three-part series entitled, “Skipping Election Day?  Your 1 Vote Counts.” In it, he outlined some major elections/decisions which were determined by just one vote.

• Congress elected President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 by one vote
• One vote made Texas a part of the US
• Thomas Jefferson became president by just one vote in the electoral college
• One vote in Congress authorized  the draft – the selective service

Although I had already planned to vote today, that really struck me.  Maybe my one vote will matter. Maybe I can make a difference, a change.  If not, then the will of the people will override me, but at least I can rest my head on my pillow knowing that I live in a country where I am afforded the duty and privilege of voting.  It isn’t about the “winning” it is about letting my voice be heard. If the change I want doesn’t happen at this election then I need to be part of the change I want to see for the next one.  

Off to the polls!