Frankfurt, Germany—The following opinion piece is authored by Malaika Kusumi, a family member to several military veterans and an author and poet. Malaika is a California UOCAVA voter, resident of Germany, and member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus.
_____________
“This is the most important election of our lifetime!” Sound familiar?
Many Americans are understandably feeling voting fatigue. The constant political noise, division, and flood of information can leave people overwhelmed and wondering whether their vote really matters, especially when the president repeatedly makes false claims and cries “fake news” to anything reported that he disagrees with. Military families know this feeling in a unique way. Service members and their loved ones often carry additional burdens—deployments, frequent moves, uncertainty, and sacrifice—while still trying to stay informed and engaged in the democratic process. And all too often, voting is reduced to simply choosing the next occupant of the White House.
But voting is about far more than choosing a president. The offices further down the ballot often directly affect military members, veterans, and their families. Governors, lawmakers, judges, school boards, and local officials help shape issues such as access to affordable health care, veterans’ benefits and services, housing, education for military children, public safety, insurance costs, and community support systems. These decisions can affect everyday life long after the campaign yard signs come down.
Military families understand not just service and commitment, but also the civic duty of casting a ballot to decide our country’s leaders. Voting is another form of service—a way of protecting the values and opportunities many have sacrificed to defend. Democracy does not only live at the top of the ballot; it lives in the details and in every office that shapes daily life. Stay informed. Vote. Encourage others to do the same. Because informed voting is power in action. VOTE IN THE MIDTERMS and encourage others to do the same. If you are seeing red incumbents on your ballot, help bring about a blue change!
_________
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The Global VMF Caucus has over 1,400 members in dozens of countries and proudly consists of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, other national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.