An accurate population count is critical to upholding individual rights and the efficient function of the United States government. It is an essential tool that determines the equitable distribution of services and ensures true democratic representation.
2019
Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg
Chief Operating Officer, Facebook
Protecting Civil Rights on Facebook During Elections
I joined Facebook because I believe deeply in the good that happens when people connect. We can stay in touch with friends, create communities, and talk about important issues. Facebook gives people a way to use their voice — and this is especially important for people who want to build social movements or whose voices have not always been heard.
Win or Lose: The Importance of Voting from a First Time Voter
I voted for the very first time Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in the midterm elections. I turned 18 the year before but became aware of and interested in the midterms when I applied for my temporary driver’s permit in May of the same year. The clerk asked if I was currently registered to vote. I told her I wasn’t, and she gave me a voter registration application.
He Votado: The Story of a First-Time Latina Voter
Voting can be a bit intimidating if one does not have the appropriate guidance, especially for first-time voters. My name is Monica B. Villa; I am a current intern at The Urban League of Philadelphia and a first-time voter.
Growing up, my father was always an active voter, but my mother was not. I asked her why she would not vote.
“Why should I? I can’t make a difference,” she responded. At the time, I thought to myself, ‘Well, she is right.’ So, I also did not have any interest in political activism or voting.
Voting for Those Who Can’t: A New Citizen’s First Vote
During the summer of my junior year of high school, I had the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen but was unaware of the rights, responsibilities and privileges of American citizenship. I was uninformed about voting. I was uneducated about the changes that needed to be made in my community. Worse still, I unaware that these changes were all connected to the ballot box. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I educated myself on the voting process and on the daily problems my community faced.