SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Election Day has arrived across the country. Lifelong voter Matt Banick strongly believes that voting is the responsibility and duty for each and every citizen.
“I think it’s really important that we have a lot of freedoms in America, and the right to vote, I think, is one of the basic freedoms we have,” Banick said. “It’s our civic duty to make our voices heard.”
The Syracuse University alum wants to set the standard for his children and for future generations.
Registered Republican Rich Smith thinks voting is a sign of respect. He understands that people in the past have fought for the right to fill out a ballot.
“I think if you stay home you are disrespecting the people who have given you the right to do that,” Smith said. “People have died for their right to get out and vote.”
Banick said he understands the political climate has been turned up a notch over the last decade. He said that although he respects everyone’s thoughts, if someone doesn’t vote, their voices will carry less weight on the outcome.
“If you decided not to vote, you’ve opted out of the political process, so you have to be willing to accept what the outcomes are,” Banick said. “I hate to frame it this way, but to me, if you’ve opted out of the vote, you also opted out to some degree an opinion on the outcome.”
Both Banick and Smith said they hope that people will continue to exercise their right to vote and pass on the message to the people around them.