Why is voting important?

Voting gives citizens a voice in the government, allowing them to choose leaders and decide on issues. Some elections are very close, so each vote matters in an election.

For instance, if each voting location had one person vote differently, Richard Nixon would have beat John F. Kennedy in 1960. Similarly, local elections for state representatives can come down to very few votes. Voting is important because it helps decide who runs the government, both at a local and national level. It allows citizens to choose their representatives. Voting also helps to decide if local referendums pass, such as new taxes or education reforms.