Dwain Northey (Gen X)

OK, people. This is it. The last week to vote in this midterm election. If you care about your rights, your children’s rights, your neighbors’ rights, or the direction this country is heading, then get off your ass and vote.

I don’t care if you vote Democrat, Republican, Independent, or write in the name of your neighbor’s cat. That’s your choice. That’s the whole damn point. Your vote is yours, and nobody else gets to make that decision for you.

There are very few things this country actually asks you to do as a citizen. Voting is one of them. It’s your opportunity to have a say in who makes the decisions that affect your life, your paycheck, your healthcare, your freedoms, and your future. You don’t get to complain that nobody listens to you if you won’t even take the time to make your voice heard.

And yes, I’m looking at all of you who say, “My vote doesn’t matter.” That’s a convenient excuse, isn’t it? Funny how the people who want to hold onto power seem to spend an awful lot of time making it harder for certain people to vote. If individual votes didn’t matter, why bother making it difficult to cast them?

Your vote matters precisely because power depends on people choosing to exercise it.

So, vote. Vote because you believe in something. Vote because you’re angry about something. Vote because you want things to change, or because you think things should stay the way they are. Vote because you want your children to inherit a country with rights and freedoms worth protecting. Vote because you’re tired of politicians treating public office like a personal investment portfolio.

And if you’re a Republican, go vote. If you’re a Democrat, go vote. If you’re an Independent who thinks both parties could use a good kick in the ass, go vote. I may disagree with your choices, but I will defend your right to make them.

That’s how democracy is supposed to work. We don’t all have to agree. We just have to agree that the people get to decide.

Now, a practical reminder: If you have a mail-in ballot, don’t assume dropping it in a mailbox this late will get it counted in time. Check your state’s election rules and deadlines. If you can, take it to an official ballot drop box or an authorized election office. Make sure it gets where it needs to go before the deadline. Don’t let procrastination turn your right to vote into a piece of paper that arrives too late to matter.

We’re down to the final week. There’s no more “I’ll do it tomorrow.” There’s no more assuming someone else will take care of it. There’s no more complaining about the direction of the country while sitting on the sidelines.

Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. You don’t get to sit in the stands for two years, ignore the game, and then act surprised when you don’t like the final score.

So, please, please, PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE!

Your rights. Your kids’ rights. Your neighbors’ rights. Your future.

One ballot at a time.

And if you’re still wondering whether your one vote makes a difference, remember this: elections are decided by the votes that are actually cast, not by the people who meant to vote but never got around to it.

LAST WEEK, PEOPLE. GET IT DONE. VOTE!