LIFE

On Saturday Nov. 7, four days after the polls closed on Election Day and thanks to record voter turnout, major news networks projected Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election for the 46th presidency of the United States, bringing hope to millions of people across the country. Over 160 million Americans cast their ballots this year.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Joe Biden (@joebiden) on Nov 7, 2020 at 9:02pm PST

If you ever think that one vote out of the millions cast this year did not make much of a difference, you are wrong. Voting allows citizens to make change in their country and to figure out the next steps to make it a better place for everyone. 

But here is my sad truth: my parents didn't want to vote this year. And as soon as I found out, I started working to convince them.

First, I did my research, finding articles about real people and how much this election would affect them. With COVID-19 and the systemic racial inequality at the forefront of American politics, we as citizens have to do our civic duty to help those around us.

I wanted to remind my parents that they had an opportunity to directly help the people who have been affected by our government's decisions. It was an occasion we just couldn't pass up. 

My parents thought voting was too much trouble, so I actually did some research for them, and learned that it was actually super easy. There are so many different options you can take: registering online, filling out a national mail voter registration form, or in-person at your state or local election office.

After discussing these steps with my parents, we chose the easiest option for them: the national mail voter registration form that was sent to our mailbox. 

After they were registered, my parents soon received a ballot. My mom suggested that we sit around the dinner table and research and discuss all the different candidates. I personally checked out the VoteSmart website to get reliable information on the candidates and where they stand on certain topics—it's a great resource! You can also visit the candidate's website, listen to interviews and watch debates to get learn more. 

A couple days of contemplating went by, and my parents decided to cast their vote for Joe Biden. Everyone has different political opinions and beliefs, but my family believed that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would be the best option for our country after personal experiences and extensive research. 

The morning that Joe Biden won the election, my parents were extremely happy. Not only were they glad they voted, they were able to see on the news the amount of people who are affected by this election.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Joe Biden (@joebiden) on Nov 7, 2020 at 6:20pm PST

As of 2020, we have a new president-elect, Joe Biden, along with our first Black and South Asian female vice president-elect, Kamala Harris. Harris included this powerful line in her victory speech: "While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this country is full of possibilities."

Let us know how you contributed to this year's election and tag @girlslifemag on social media! 

by ZiQing Kuang | 11/17/2020