At 2:29 a.m. on a Wednesday night, the people of Wisconsin sealed the 2016 presidential results. Donald Trump won, to the chagrin of pollsters and the 2.9 million Americans who secured Hillary Clinton a popular vote victory. Some consider the 2016 election among the most shocking, contentious, and bizarre in U.S. history. If for nothing else, it was certainly memorable for many of us now at CLS as the first presidential election we cast ballots in.
Here we are eight years later: Donald Trump is back on the ticket (for the third time), and the gravity of this moment is not lost on us. Whether you consider 2024 THE election of our lifetime or a blip in political history, the results will be nothing short of seismic. “Your vote matters” is an understatement—it’s imperative to shape what kind of democracy, economy, and civil liberties are realized now and in the future. As such, cast your ballot this cycle. Boycotting this election or throwing away your vote in protest is not effective political activism. It’s self-defeating.
As the late Congressman John Lewis—who bled and almost died for my right to vote—said, “your vote is precious, almost sacred.” Exercising your access to the ballot box honors his legacy and those who fought for this right. Voting is not capitulation to an agenda or an acceptance of a binary choice; it is a strategic decision, laden with inevitable trade-offs and requiring a calculation of political realities and preferred outcomes. Voting is just one critical brushstroke on the canvas of our democracy that works in tandem with advocacy, protest, petition, and all the ways we try to improve our country. This bold act should not be seen as one’s wholesale endorsement of a particular candidate or representing one’s entire collection of beliefs.
Regardless of your political persuasion, this election is monumental for what we care about at the federal, state, and local levels. Trump and Harris offer starkly different visions for our nation, “one where we are focused on the future, the other focused on the past,” as Harris frames it. Will we live in Harris’ “opportunity economy” or “return to common sense” in Trump’s continued fight to Make America Great Again? Does post-Dobbs abortion access hinge on eliminating the filibuster or remain in the purview of the states? The fundamental structure of who we are as a country—and how we express those values through our immigration system, tax rates, administrative state, and international alliances—hangs in the balance.
Beyond the Oval Office, our down-ballot votes in 2024 are just as consequential. Key Senate races (e.g., in Ohio, Michigan, Montana, and Wisconsin) and House races (e.g., in Arizona, California, Iowa, and New York) will determine whether Congress stunts or accelerates the legislative reach of whoever ends up in the White House. Contenders for governor’s mansions, like in New Hampshire, are vying for executive power over state budgets, judicial appointments, and legislative proposals on issues like abortion statutes. State capitals will control the purse strings for everything from the water we drink, the schools our kids attend, and the roads we drive on. And city councils and ballot measures will govern our daily lives in our neighborhoods and local communities.
Here in New York, several seats and measures are on the line. One Senate seat and seven House seats are up for election—three of which are among the top 26 most competitive House races in the country. More than any other state in the country, New York will determine whether we have a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries or Speaker Mike Johnson in January. New Yorkers are also voting on ballot proposal 1 (a.k.a. “Prop 1”), which would add anti-discrimination protections to the State Constitution for, among others, those seeking reproductive healthcare. In NYC specifically, ballot proposals 2 through 6 could alter the NYC Charter (the city’s constitution) by transforming the balance of power between the Mayor’s office and the City Council.
To belabor the point: There’s a lot at stake in this election. And not using the full potential of your vote does not bring you any closer to the reality you hope to see.
Do you vote in a state like New York or California and think your vote is futile? Think again. Your vote may be less consequential than the 80,000 people across Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin who decided in 2016. However, your vote still tips the scale in your favor. For example, your attitude about an election and expressed voting intentions are influential in your circles. You might not be among the deciding votes for the presidency, but you likely are the civic clarion call your friends and family need to hear. Secondly, your vote in down-ballot races, as mentioned above, carries notable weight in determining our day-to-day lives more than any president ever will. Lastly, but certainly not an exhaustive point, the popular vote still matters in our electoral college system as it signals public sentiment and impacts political strategy, policy planning, and public discourse. If you think we need to abolish the electoral college, as I do, align your voting actions with your belief in direct democracy, rather than abdicating your popular vote because you think it’s inconsequential.
Are you a single-issue voter or a voter displeased with your options who is considering not voting or voting for a third party in protest? Think again. This plea is not a blind, everlasting endorsement for our two-party system. We should debate the merits of reforming our democratic process. This election, though, presents us with a political reality in which one of two options will be victorious. You have the choice of forfeiting your say or using the power of your vote to sway the results toward your desired ends.
Whether red or blue, yes or no, make a tactful decision with your convictions in hand to have a material say in what happens on November 5th. Protest votes better serve your opponents and your ego than your causes. Voting is about more than you, it’s about making one step towards the community and the country you want to live in. Leaving your vote on the table is a missed opportunity to do just that.
Amir Jones is a 3L and President of Columbia Law Students for Voting Rights.