Alyona Grace
Meet Alyona Grace blogger and aspiring actress, who’s passionate about traveling and living a life full to the fullest. Here’s how she’s been dealing with CV19 and her suggestions for others.
Vote!!
Voting is one of the most impactful things you can do in your lifetime and with the 2020 election just around the corner, it’s important to learn why it’s crucial we use our voice to advocate for more equality and inclusivity so that all walks of life can thrive in their communities.
Back in the 1800s, historical leaders knew the right to vote was essential for a perfect, but only white men who held property were given that right. It was not until 1870 that the 15th amendment came into play and prevented the government from denying people their right to vote based on race. Even with this new amendment taking its seat in the constitution, there would still be measures like added taxes and literacy tests that crippled the inclusive progress. In 1890, because of the effort of so many brave women like Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (to name just a few), Wyoming became the first state to allow women to vote. The rest of the states followed soon after in 1920 when the 19th amendment was created out of the suffrage movement, allowing women the right to vote. Indigenous people, people of Asian ancestry, and convicted felons have also all needed to fight to get the right to vote. Voter suppression has been around for over 100 years and to exercise your right to vote means that the effort set forth to allow every individual this basic right wasn’t done in vain.
By 2016, 90% of all individuals 18 years and older in the United States had the right to vote but only 56% of those Americans actually used it. It’s easy to think how one vote doesn’t put a dent into the decision, but when millions of people are saying the same thing every 4 years, you can only imagine the impact it has on an election. There have been several elections in our history that were so narrow that they triggered an automatic recount soon after all the votes were in. We are on the precipice of a historical election. It’s now time to show up for yourself and for your community. If you’re not out there voting for your own interests, then who will?
Your first step is to make sure you are registered to vote, and this can be done at usa.gov and takes just a few minutes of your time. If you’re not already registered to vote and the deadline has passed, there are close to 20 states that have same-day registration at the polls, just check your states’ laws and be prepared with all your information on election day. If you are registered to vote, all you do is wait for either early voting or election day to roll around. Vote.org has a voting calendar that allows you to see if your state has early voting and when those early voting days are. Letsvoteearly.org gives you direct information on how to either vote early from home or where you can vote on election day for the area in which you live in. Again, do some research because every state is different, and some require you to have a reason why you won’t be able to show up to the ballots, and the pandemic can’t be one of them. If you’re cleared to vote by mail, just know it’s safe and that a lot of states will keep track of your vote through the mail and alert you when your ballot has been given to election administrators.
You matter, your voice matters, and your vote matters. November 3rd is coming up quickly, please join the millions of Americans that have already registered to vote and be a part of this monumental time in history. Don’t let the hard work of so many courageous people who fought for you and against voter suppression go to waste. Whatever side you lean towards, get informed about the people running for office because they will be the leaders we look up to for the change we so desperately want to see in our country today.
Beyond The Stage is important to the youth in San Antonio, to keep striving towards their goals. More than anything, our youth needs to be inspired and Beyond The Stage provides them that extra push to become our next leaders.