Every Vote Counts

One thing which I fail to understand is that so many Americans, living as free as we do, fail to exercise their right to vote. They seem to feel that their vote will make no difference, so why bother? I was talking to a fellow hospice volunteer a couple of weeks ago and mentioned the upcoming election. She reacted with the comment that she does not pay any attention to it and does not vote.



I am currently reading The House Divides, a history of the United States between the War of 1812 and the Civil War by Paul I. Wellman. In it the author cites a passage from the book, The History of Our Country, by Edward S. Elliott:



"The power of one vote was never shown more strikingly than in Indiana in 1844. A sick man in Switzerland County, was carried two miles in a carriage to vote for David Kelso, who was running for the state senate. The sick man was a client whose life had been saved by Kelso. The act of gratitude caused the client's death, but elected Kelso who received one more vote than his opponent. The state senate had to elect a United States Senator. Kelso bolted the Democratic caucus and took with him a friend. This tied the vote for weeks. Then Kelso selected Edward A. Hanngan [sic] as a new candidate and declared that he would vote with the Whigs unless he was supported. This threat brought about the election of Hannigan [sic] who took his seat in the United States Senate. Then came the wrangle over the admission of Texas to the Union. The most prominent candidate before Hannigan [sic] entered the field had pledged himself to vote against the measure. The bill for the admission of the State passed by a single vote and that vote was cast by Hannigan [sic.] Thus it may be said that the vote of a dying man in the wooded hills of Switzerland County, Indiana, made Texas a state and brought on the war with Mexico.



"As a comment on the above, Edward Hannegan (the correct spelling of his name), had he voted against the resolution would have tied not defeated it and thew issue would have had to be decided by the vote of the president pro tem, a Whig and presumably against annexation."



Therefore, it is and has always been my belief that each American has, not only the right, but also the duty and obligation to vote, regardless.