I’ve often heard the phrase, ‘It’s nothing personal; it’s just politics,’ but for me, that couldn’t be further from the truth in this election.
I graduated from public school, where Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) helped me succeed, and I’ve witnessed the effects of climate change firsthand. I live in a city gripped by a housing crisis. My grandfather dedicated his life to environmentalism, and that commitment to protecting our planet is woven into my values.
I vote to protect the rights of my friends and family in the LGBTQIA+ community to love and marry freely. I vote for friends who depend on Medicaid, for those who need financial aid to get through college, and for those whose right to choose may be at risk. Immigration policies shape the lives of my friends and their families. Even though I don’t live in a battleground state, I cast my vote as an act of duty, knowing that my community and my future will be affected by the outcome of this election.
I vote for access to healthcare, to ensure that if I were ever in crisis — facing an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or sepsis — I would receive the care I need. I remember Nevaeh Crain, who died in agony at 18 after being denied treatment. I vote so that families can access IVF if they need it. I vote because I want a leader who values people over politics, a leader…