Does My Vote Matter?

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Today, when our country is almost $9 trillion in debt and Americans are grappling with foreclosures on their homes, high gasoline prices and medical costs beyond their means, it is hard to see why bothering to vote matters all that much. Believe it or not, however, over the years, just one vote has decided candidate elections, judicial decisions and legislative actions.


In 2005, 1 Vote killed legislation banning discrimination against gays and lesbians in the State of Washington. It passed the State’s House but was defeated 25-24 in the State’s Senate. It would have added sexual orientation to the existing state law that bans discrimination by race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status and other categories.  

In 2000, 1 Vote decided the presidential election. The Supreme Court voted 5-4, in the case of Gore v. Bush, to stop recounting in Florida. Supreme Court Justices are appointed by Presidents and confirmed by the Senate, individuals who are elected by voters.

In 1994, 1 Vote would have decided a Wyoming state representative election. Instead, the tie-vote election and tie-vote recount for the seat from the Jackson Hole area was decided when a ping pong ball, bearing the winner’s name, was pulled from the Governor’s cowboy hat in a drawing before the State Canvassing Board.

In 1986, 1 Vote raised Iowa’s drinking age from 19 to 21.

In 1978, 1 Vote decided an Alaska state senate election.  

In 1920, 1 Vote gave women the right to vote when Harry Burn cast the deciding vote in the Tennessee State Legislature, making Tennessee the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment and finally ending the 72 year struggle for woman’s suffrage.

In 1846, 1 Vote started the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the U.S. gaining control of the territories of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and California.

[Note: these reasons have been published elsewhere, including article by Lisa Frederiksen Bohannon, “Why Should You Register to Vote?” appearing in the September/October 2005 issue of Next Step magazine.]