Why Your Vote Matters Even in a Deep Red or Blue State
It’s about democracy, but also social science.
Guest post by Joanna Mikulski
Americans abroad typically vote at their last address before leaving the U.S. For me, that’s in Washington, D.C. — which isn’t actually a state, but is definitely deep, deep blue at the Federal level. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won 87 percent of the vote in the Presidential race. The 700,000 residents of D.C. don’t have a voting representative in Congress, but Eleanor Holmes Norton, the non-voting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and a Democrat, won by a similarly huge margin in 2018. Unless there’s a truly seismic political change, the 2020 election results will look much the same.
Some of my American friends living outside the U.S. have expressed frustration that their vote doesn’t really “count” because of where they vote. I believe that voting is the responsibility of every American of voting age, and every vote strengthens American democracy. (Most of my friends probably do too.) But as a D.C. voter, I can understand the feeling. While many overseas voters can vote in competitive ‘down ballot’ races — races for Congressional or state office — that’s not the case for me or many overseas voters this year.
But there’s a very important reason why your vote is potentially much more powerful than you think. Let’s get to the social science!
When it comes to voting, your teachers were right: peer pressure is the most powerful type of influence. Studies show that if we know our friends and family are voting and if those friends and family ask us about our plans, we’re far more likely to vote ourselves. This social influence is more effective than other get-out-the-vote tactics like phone banking or paid social media ads.
I may not be voting in a competitive race this year, but I have friends and family who vote in Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, and other battleground states. I grew up in and still have deep connections to Bucks County, PA — a critical swing county in a critical swing state. By casting my vote in D.C. and asking my friends and family about their plans, I’m making it more likely that they vote. I’m influencing votes across the country — literally.
So no matter where you vote, know this: Your vote matters. Your voice matters.
You have more power in this election than you might think.
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Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
