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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE By State Representative C.B. Embry, Jr.

Why Letting Your Voice Be Heard is Important to the History of Our Country and Commonwealth

In less than two weeks you and others across our great Commonwealth will head to the voting booth and make your choice on who will represent you on the federal, state and local government levels.  Since 1787, when the U.S. Constitution was ratified, Americans have exercised their right to choose those who lead our government.

But have you ever given thought about how important letting casting your vote is to the direction of the United States, Kentucky and your local county and city government?  Since 1787, many laws have been passed that allow more of us to cast our ballots.  They include the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which when passed in 1920 gave women the right to vote.  Three years later Native Americans were given the right to vote, and the passage of several laws during the 1960’s eliminated barriers to allow minorities to have their voices heard.

In the early 1970’s we passed the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and followed Kentucky’s example which had allowed 18-year olds to vote since it was founded.  The approval of that amendment has proven important because it has allowed more young people to become part of the process in selecting who will shape their future.

It appears more Kentuckians are engaged in this year’s election.  Recent data released by the Secretary of State’s office show that more than three million people are registered to vote, an increase of nearly five percent in the last four years.  Still some people make statements like, “I only have one vote,” or “My voice doesn’t matter.”  Here are few examples of how important your vote can be according to the University of San Francisco:

·         In 1876 one vote made Rutherford B. Hayes our 19th President

·         In 1941 one vote kept the Selective Service open, just a few weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor

·         And in 1990, one vote decided a state House race in Oakland County, Michigan.

One vote has mattered, and in the history of our great nation we’ve realized how important many voices are to our political process.  It is essential that no matter whom you support or what political party you belong to, that you allow your voice to be heard on November 6th.  Or as our 6th President, John Quincy Adams once said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

I welcome any comments or suggestions on this or any other issue.  You can reach my Frankfort office via our toll-free legislative comment line at 1-800-372-7181.  I can also be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

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