There are millions of people in the United States who work, pay taxes, and contribute every day to the country’s prosperity.
But when November 3rd arrives, many of them will have to remain on the sidelines. Not because they lack dreams or concerns, but because they don’t yet have the right to vote.
That is one of the great paradoxes of our democracy: millions of people who help build the country’s future cannot participate in the election of those who will make decisions that directly affect their lives.
Currently, there are 5.5 million legal residents of Hispanic origin.
In many of our homes, U.S. citizens live alongside permanent residents, immigrants waiting to become citizens, and young people who are not yet old enough to vote.
They share the same roof, the same economic worries, and the same hopes. However, only some can enter a polling place.
And that is where the vote takes on a dimension that goes beyond the individual. Because voting isn’t just about deciding on our taxes, our safety, our jobs, or our children’s future.
It also means recognizing that we are part of a much larger community, where decisions affect those who have a voice at the ballot box and those who cannot yet exercise that right.
Think of Maria, who has worked hard and paid taxes for twenty years, but still can’t vote.
Think of Juan, the father who gets up early to prepare the food that ends up on our tables.
Think of Lupita, who dreams of one day becoming a U.S. citizen.
Or think of Don Raúl, the grandfather who contributed to the growth of this country for decades, but never had the opportunity to vote. Their stories are also part of the United States.
“In many ways, our vote has to count for more than just ourselves. It has to count for all those families we know, who are part of our family, who are our neighbors, with whom we work every day. We also have to support them through our vote… If we all go out and vote… we win,” says Xavier Becerra, the Democratic candidate for governor of California.
This November 3rd, it won’t just be about who wins or loses an election.
It will define the course of policies that will have consequences for entire families, from the cost of housing and access to healthcare to education, the economy, and immigration.
That’s why exercising the right to vote involves much more than marking a ballot. It’s an opportunity to assume responsibility for the present and for those who come after us.
Because behind every citizen there is a family, a community, and many stories, like those of María, Juan, Lupita, and Don Raúl, that deserve to be heard. Your vote is worth more than one. Because your future is everyone’s future.
