October 22nd, 2020

I first learned the power of voting in high school when I ran for class president and lost the election by seven votes to Kenny Olson. In that moment of defeat, I totally understood that every vote counts.

So when I graduated high school in a presidential election year, I threw myself into learning everything I could about the candidates. I wanted my vote not only to count but be meaningful.

I didn’t come from a political family.  My father and mother never spoke about politics at the dinner table.  Dinner table conversation was reserved for their work and our schoolwork. I do recall my mother joking that it didn’t matter how she voted because my father’s vote would cancel hers out.  And for some reason I totally believed that crazy idea.

Of course, her vote counted.  She had a hard-fought right to vote. She just didn’t think it was important.

Her daughter feels differently. And I’m proud to say her granddaughter definitely feels differently. This year, on the 100th anniversary of a woman’s right to vote, my daughter will cast her first vote in a presidential election.

Her journey to the ballot box has been different from mine.  It has been guided by our political discussions at the dinner table, her political awakening through high school and four years of college and, of course, the political information onslaught that surrounds her on every form of media.

For all of the maligning of younger generations’ political apathy, I have faith — from witnessing the young people in my circle — that these new voters will not squander their civic duty.

Caroline Blanck, who I’ve known since she was a little girl, graduated college in 2019.  Adrienne Wolff graduated this past May.  They both realized this year, with the switch to online learning, there would be many students trying to figure out how they could make a difference with their time. Passionate about politics, they realized the potential of all those Generation Z students diving into politics and generating more interest in voting.

Together this past June, they formed The GAP Project (“Get Acting, People”) to motivate the power of political involvement for Gen Z.  Their mission is to break down the barriers of entry and to create a pipeline into politics for historically under-represented groups, primarily young people, to support candidates who match their values, interests and demographics. 

They recognize that Generation Z (8-23 years old) is one of the most diverse generations in history. As Caroline says, “If there are more candidates that look like my generation, people will be more inspired to vote. And if you are volunteering on a campaign, you are more likely to vote because you have more stake in the game.”

The GAP Project, through a simple 15-question quiz, has matched over 600 volunteers with 100 campaigns in 35 states — including many volunteering virtually for local candidates in far-away places and working to ensure voters register and vote.

The people involved know that not only their vote counts but their commitment to our civic future counts.

For years I’ve heard the refrain that my vote for president doesn’t count in New York since we are not in a presidential “battleground.”  To me, that’s as ridiculous as my mother thinking my father’s vote canceled hers out.

This year especially, on the 100th anniversary of my right to vote, I will vote, in person, and do it with the knowledge that my country will only thrive if we all — at any age — participate in our democracy.

I hope you do too.

New York has an online voting guide at howto.vote/vote/en/ny.html.

First Published in the Democrat and Chronicle and USA Today Network.