With elections around the corner, Senator Melissa Melendez, Dr. Robert Radi, a La Quinta City Council Member, and Lisa Middleton, a Palm Springs City Council Member, speak about the importance of your vote during the virtual press conference held by ASI.
Dr. Radi started off the event by thanking ASI for organizing an event that emphasized the importance of voting to the CSUSB community. “It is of urgent need to inform every one of the importance of the upcoming election in a democracy. We don’t need to agree with each other, but we must participate,” said Dr. Radi.
Middleton agreed with Dr. Radi, believing that citizens should exercise their right to vote. “The vote is fundamental the most elemental part of living in a representative democracy, it is something that we can never give away and something that we always must hold dear and sacred,” said Middleton. “I don’t miss an election because I don’t want anybody else making decisions for me that I haven’t already signed off,” she continued.
Melendez, a military veteran, stated it is a privilege to have the right to vote, and be able to, because some people in other countries do not have the right to vote. “Every election is very important. This year is no different from any other and I hope all of you will do so,” Melendez said.
Voting elections are not just on the national level. They also take place at local and state level. “What your community looks like is determined by the people you elect into office. We have control over the state’s budget, so if you have concerns about how funding is spent on education, LGBTQ programs or law enforcement, it is the same thing for local officials,” Melendez said.
There are a number of options people can take when voting, whether it’s by mail or in-person. By now, everyone that is eligible to vote should have received their sample ballot where they can find voter assistance and drop-off locations with address and phone numbers.
Melendez encourages people to research the candidates and propositions on the ballot because they will have an impact on your life and your future. According to Middleton, asking questions to candidates will help voters in making the best decision and clarify any uncertainty or confusion on any proposition they do not understand. “They are going to make decisions that affect your life at some point,” Middleton said.
Election Day will take place on November 3, 2020.
Thank you for posting this story. It was a very insightful and great event. Having a panel of diverse elected officials was powerful. The most important message was expressed by all of the guest panel and that was “the importance of exercising your privilege to vote.”
I hope that all who attended will take heed to the message and vote. Even those who live here and not able to vote, encourage someone who can. “Your Vote, Our future”
Thank you once again.