It’s the semi-annual post where I ask very nicely to vote. I have been voting since I was eighteen years old. Yes, I voted in the 2016 election. I know what issues I care about most:
- Protecting disability rights and services
- I’ve written about how the fraud prevention measures are impacting services I need in previous posts. Dane Smith from MinnPost says, “And the fraud fracas obscures the fact that almost all human service dollars are flowing to real people in need and are saving and improving millions of lives in Minnesota every single day.” Hard data and context are missing in Minnesota fraud furor
- Supporting my neighbors – and that means my immigrant neighbors, LGBTQ+ friends and family, people with disabilities, and all of us feeling under attack right now
- I believe our country is at its best when we include and respect different perspectives, ideas, backgrounds, and cultures. Right now, I fear that people are being pushed aside because they are seen as different.
- I am supporting candidates who believe that they’re representing all of us
- Peggy Flanagan for United States Senate because she is my friend and she will listen and fight for all of us with a loud and clear voiceObviously, you know I am a Democrat, so I believe Amy Klobuchar for Governor, Steve Simon for Secretary of State, Keith Ellison for Attorney General, Zack Filipovich for State Auditor will all make it possible for people with disabilities to live independent lives.In my corner of MN, I support Betty McCollum as my incredible US Representative, my awesome State Representative David Gottfried, and my amazing State Senator John Marty!
- Also, do your research on other local offices such as school boards!
It is important to make our voices heard. I know they always say this is the most important election ever, but for me, it is absolutely critical for the reasons I mentioned above. My life, my neighbors’ lives, our communities, my state, our country depend on all of us participating in this democratic process. Our votes matter and our votes count!
