I voted for Jacob and Casey too

We were sitting at the house last night talking to some family about the election, Brad's youngest brother, Jacob, interjected saying "I so wish I could vote."  His words hit me like a ton of bricks.

In that moment, I thought about Jacob.  He's 14 years old and soon to turn 15.  By the time the next election rolls around, he will be 18 years old, soon to turn 19.  He will be able to vote in that election if he so chooses.  But by then, so much of his future will have been decided for him.  The person who is elected President today (or tomorrow, whenever they calculate the final vote totals) will greatly influence Jacob's life and his future.  So much of Jacob's future depends on who we vote into office during this election. 

Then I thought about my sweet Casey, my heart, who is 8 years old.  She's a long way away from being able to vote in an election.  But her future depends on who becomes President as a result of this election also.  The decision we make today will aid in determining what kind of opportunities she will have in her future.

I'm an educated voter.  While I consider myself to be a Republican, I won't just vote straight Republican because they're Republican.  That, to me, is silly and irresponsible.  I study the candidates.  I watch the way they handle themselves in debates and interviews.  I look at how they carry themselves.  I study where they stand on the issues that matter.  However, this time around, it took until today, Election Day, for me to see the bigger picture.  To realize that my vote is greater than myself.

Those of us at or over the age of 18 get to let our voices be heard in the form of our vote.  But there is a huge population of kids under 18 whose future depends just as much, if not more than ours, on who we vote for.  It's them we have to keep in mind as we are casting our votes today, for those of us who didn't vote early.

So my vote this election was cast also for Jacob, for Casey and and for kids like them everywhere.  Kids too young to let their voices be heard in this election.  Kids whose lives are at stake when we choose who will lead our country.  As you're going to the polls today, keep them in mind and do your best to choose a President who will be best for you, but also all those precious kids coming up behind you.