Do you believe that it’s not important to vote in the presidential election? Is it because you think that the president doesn’t have any power to really change anything?  If so, then my response to you is this:

Over the next four years we have the potential to lose at least one of the members of the Supreme Court.  This means that the president could have the opportunity to pick a replacement member of the court whose ideals vary on issues that have a particularly important influence on people’s lives.  Examples of such issues include access to women’s health and  reproductive care.  For example, if a member of the Supreme Court who is known for their liberal stances retires, they could be replaced by someone who represents the opposite end of the spectrum, which could significantly impact the outcome of new court decisions, as well as affect cases that have already been discussed.

For this reason, and many more it’s very important that we all exercise our right to vote. The president can change and influence things, particularly the Supreme Court.  Four of the Nine Supreme Court justices are 70 or older, making the chance that one or more will retire considerable.  Your rights are at stake, so vote like it.

-Amanda Copeland, WMST Intern for the CWC