As today is Election Day, SBW wants to remind you that there are other candidates up for election other than former Governor Romney and President Obama. And we're not just talking about Roseanne Barr being on Florida's presidential ballot.
DC, for instance, has the opportunity to re-elect a woman who Stephen Colbert calls "the fake Congresswoman," Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Watch it here. It's funny.
Colbert calls Eleanor Holmes Norton (I've never heard a DC resident not refer to her by her full name) "the fake Congresswoman" since the district is not a state and its representative does not have voting power in Congress.
So, why should DC residents even vote for a Congress member, whether it be Eleanor Holmes Norton or one of her challengers? Moreover, why should folks in non-swing states vote in the Presidential election?
There are Congressional races in actual states where the representatives do have the power to vote. Those elected officials have the ability to help or hinder the President's agenda, and how they vote can impact communities and the distribution of federal funds towards state issues.
Then, there is the historical reason to vote. People fought (and died) for the right of women, blacks, and even children to vote, so don't let their work be in vain. Others simply believe voting is a civic duty, and that all Americans should actively participate in our democracy.
Voting for the president still matters if your state is decidedly going in a certain direction because one principle behind voting is about investing in your community. I had a civics teacher who likened voting to playing the lottery. Your one vote contributes to a jackpot that everyone can win.
Check out the 176 Nationwide ballot measures.
SBW will be live tweeting tonight's election coverage. Don't miss it. Follow us at @SBWomanBlog.
