Exercising Your Right to Vote

Thirty years ago, Kevin Kline won a Golden Globe for playing a presidential look-alike in a political comedy called "Dave." Klein portrayed an ordinary citizen who secretly substitutes for a President that suffered a stroke. As pseudo-President, Dave makes a difference by advancing programs for the public good. He continues the charade until the Vice President returns from a goodwill tour of Africa and is sworn in as President. The funny and inspiring movie is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and YouTube.

The American Bar Association recognized the importance of voting in 2014 when it adopted the Law Day theme of “American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters.”  Voting enables lawyers to discharge their civic duty and advance causes they support. This article has several voting tips and resources for implementing them.

Tips

Encourage Others - rally family and friends to vote.

Influence Outcomes - influence outcomes by voting for candidates that support your causes.

Investigate Candidates - research the voting records of candidates and their truthfulness.

Participate - consider volunteering to help candidates win the election.

Register - confirm your voter registration and calendar for renewal.

Stay Informed - read local and national publications to determine candidate positions.

Vote Early - avoid long lines by voting early or balloting by mail.

Conclusion

In the last presidential election, voting turnout ranged from 48% in the 18-24 age bracket to 72% for voters age 65 and older. Make a difference like Dave - stay informed and exercise your right to vote.

Articles

Sharon McBride et Al., Guide to Working on Political Campaigns, Harvard Law School, Sep. 13, 2022.

Kelsey Alpaio, How to Respond When Someone Says I'm Not Voting, Harvard Business Review, Oct. 28, 2020.

Dena Bunis, Six Ways to Check Out a Candidate, AARP, Apr. 30, 2018.

Kayleigh Lickliter, How To Look Up A Politician’s Voting Record And Job Performance, Detroit Documenter, Jul. 27, 2022.

Philip Sledge, Dave: 6 Things You Might Not Know About the Kevin Klein Comedy, CinemaBlend, Aug. 28, 2020.

NRDC Staff, To Vote Early, Start Here, NRDC, Jun. 13, 2022.

Books

Jessamyn Conrad, What You Should Know About Politics But Don't, Fourth Edition: A Nonpartisan Guide to the Issues That Matter, Arcade, Jan. 21, 2021.

Benjamin Griffith and John Hardin Young,  America Votes! Challenges to Modern Election Law and Voting Rights, 4th Ed., American Bar Association, Dec. 10, 2019.

Nora Super, Three Trends Shaping the Politics of Aging in America, Oxford University Press, Apr. 20, 2020.

ABA Division for Public Education Staff, Cornerstones of Democracy: Conversation Guide, American Bar Association, Aug. 3, 2022.

Podcasts

Daily (Daily Political News, New York Times)

Left, Right & Center (Weekly Review of Political Issues, KCRW)

Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie (Weekly Review of Political Trends, Ken Rudin)

The NPR Politics Podcast (Daily Review of Political News, NPR)

Stay Tuned with Preet (Weekly Insight into Political News, Café)

Websites

American Bar Association (Poll Locator)

Ballotpedia (Politician Data)

OpenSecrets (Fundraising History)

Politics that Work (Voting Records)