My top five reasons why you should vote
Why VOTE?
Below is a countdown of the top five reasons why you, as a U.S. citizen, should make sure to get out on Tuesday, November 2 and VOTE in the election:
- Elected officials make DECISIONS on your access to health care, the amount of taxes you pay, and how those taxes will be spent, not to mention decisions on fairness in hiring, wage levels, workplace safety and pay equity.
- If you don’t vote someone else will, meaning you are letting someone else decide the laws that will affect your family, your community, your taxes and your workplace.
- Neighborhood improvements depend on your vote. Elected officials make decisions about where to build schools, the placement of parks and recreational areas, crime prevention initiatives, traffic pattern decisions, not to mention community functions and facilities.
- For this region to grow and get state and federal funding, we need to vote. Our voices need to be heard. By having a huge voter turnout the people making the decisions will see that this area stands up, shows up and makes a statement, assuring that our area and our views are well represented in all levels of government and decision making.
- It is your RIGHT and DUTY as a citizen of the United States of America. Do not take it for granted—people have died defending your right to vote. It is more than choosing a candidate, it is about choosing who will represent your views in all levels of government. You need to take an active role in the issues that are paramount today, such as the future of health care, immigration, equal opportunity for all, voting rights, infrastructure, taxes and many other important matters.
VCU is closed on Tuesday November 2. I hope to see you at the polls exercising your RIGHT and DUTY to vote. And, YES your vote does count.
Clara M. Spatafore D.D.S., M.S.
Interim Dean VCU School of Dentistry
Chair Department of Endodontics and Oral Diagnostic Sciences
Diplomate American Board of Endodontics