October 30, 2008
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One Vote
In a world populated by seven billion people, does one person really matter much? Many seem to conclude that they cannot make a difference – even Christians. In the U.S. for example, it’s estimated that 41% of Christians did not vote in the 2000 Presidential elections. Many apparently don’t think their vote matters, but history is filled with examples of how one person – or one vote – can change the course of nations.
Concerned by the large number of people who don’t vote, the Supervisor of Elections for Collier County, Florida, recently detailed the ways history had been changed…because of just one vote.
In 1868, one vote in the U.S. Senate saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. In 1916, if presidential hopeful Charles E. Hughes had received one additional vote in each of California’s precincts, he would have defeated President Woodrow Wilson’s reelection bid. In 1955, the mayor of Huron, Ohio, was elected to office by one vote. In 1959, the mayors of both Rose Creek and Odin, Minnesota were elected to their offices by one vote.
Yes, one vote really does matter. One person can make a difference.
Comments (6)
John F. Kennedy told the story of Sen. Hughes in his Pulitzer Prize-winning “Profiles in Courage”. Said Hughes, “I stand here today looking into my own open grave.” And then proceeded to do what was right. And it cost him his political life.
Each vote certainly was important in FLORIDA in 2000!!!!!
I already voted but what you say is so true.
In a democracy half the people will be happy and the other half are going to be sad but that is the way it is -so vote anyway for what you want.
I always heard that if you don’t vote you don’t have a right to complain.
I have always voted since I became eligible to vote….Good post…May God bless our nation as we vote!
VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4th!!
I did early voting.