Having a say

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

(8/2020) Exactly 100 years ago, on August 18, the 19th amendment was ratified. It states that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Even though I learned about the Susan B Anthony amendment when I was in school, I realized that I did not know much detail about the subject at all. I knew that women gained the right to vote in 1920 and I knew that Anthony played a huge role in that, but it was unknown to me that she died over 14 years before the amendment was ratified. It was all the way back in 1872 that Anthony was arrested after casting her ballot for the presidential election in Rochester, NY. As much of an outrage as this was, it took many years for women to be given the right to vote across the country.

Even though Anthony was committed to many different causes throughout her life, the right to vote was not the first. There were so many more layers to women’s rights than just that. In fact, women held very little power in marriages, it was difficult to file for divorce, and a married woman was unable to sign contracts and documents on her behalf.

I’ve always been extremely grateful for my childhood. I grew up with many dreams in my head and no obvious obstacles lying on the road while I was on my way to achieve them. The mindset I had was that if I worked hard enough, I would be able to perfect any career dream I saw fit. Fortunately, I’ve been able to keep these dreams, even after high school and through college. Realism has definitely taken over in other ways, but it is a blessing to know that my dreams are possible for me to achieve.

Thanks to people who fought for rights in the past, I’ve never had to worry about what I was and wasn’t allowed to do. I never worried about who I was and wasn’t able to become. I had always felt truly free like an American is meant to feel. I had the liberty to make my own decisions. I don’t often think back about when I should be giving credit to.

Earlier this year, during spring break, I was back home in Texas, just in time for the state elections. About two weeks before the borders closed off to Europe, my fiancé had flown in from Ireland to spend the week with me. We had intentions to drive down to the coast and spend a few days on the beach together. However, the day we headed south was the day of the election, so early in the morning, we stopped by my old high school so I could practice my right for the first time.

After parking, I walked into the building, where I spent my days during the 9th and 10th grade, and I followed the signs to the room where everyone was directed to vote. When I entered the room, a woman standing behind the doorway pointed to two different tables. She informed me that if I was voting democrat, I had to go to one and if I was voting republican, I needed to go to another. Listening to her instructions, I headed to the table when I intended to vote. For my whole life, I had always been told that my political beliefs are often something that I best keep to myself, so this situation was slightly odd for me.

The man at the table asked for my ID and printed out my ballot. He began to give my instructions before asking, "have you even voted before?" At this point, I was nearly 22 but knew I could pass for several years younger if I tried. I answered honestly and said I hadn’t, explaining that I was out of the state during the 2016 election and did not receive my absentee ballot in time to fill it out and get it back to Texas.

"First time voter!" The man called out. The thing that surprised me was that every single person in the room turned to me and started clapping. Even from the opposing side, everyone was smiling and clapping. I don’t normally like it when people catch me off guard and bring attention to me, but I found this experience to be incredibly enlightening. Even though everyone has different opinions and we disagree with each other on so much, the vast majority of us just want what is right for our friends, family, and ourselves. Even if someone is going about it in a way that doesn’t seem to be a linear approach, chances are, they have similar goals as you.

My voting experience motivated and moved me in several different ways. Even though I went to one table, the other one clapped for me. This showed me that others are happy to see a young Texan like me practicing my right as an American. Voting showed me that I am free to vote in whatever way I choose and no one in the room should treat me with disrespect. Lastly, it showed me that my ability to vote so easily is a freedom that many don’t have in this world. I am forever grateful.

This whole experience was very encouraging and I’m looking forward to voting again this fall. Before a certain time in this country, I wouldn't have been given the ability to have my say. Women were generally forced to surrender their choice of representatives to the men in their lives. This November, when I vote in the presidential election, I will remember all of the people before me who worked hard so that I could be able to have my say in how the country works.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney