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Congratulations!
Your vote doesn't matter. Not at the national level, not at the state level. It might, just might, matter a little for your local elections, especially the very boring ones that most people in your area skip because they are boring and most people know nothing about them.
But you know where you really can make a political impact, is showing up to the open sessions of your local school-board, your town-hall meetings, your county supervisors meetings, having read up on the agenda in advance and then taking that opportunity to give your 3-minute speech.
You won't sway votes on every issue, but I have been amazed at how many times an agenda item got tabled or substantially changed based solely on a dozen people showing up and giving their well-reasoned 3-minute opposition.
And that's without being plugged into a more serious local organization that regularly interacts with your local politicians, that's just you yourself. If you do get plugged into such a local organization, you can have even more impact.
(And, of course, get to know your child's teachers and school principal. And be prepared to put them into a competing charter school / private school / homeschool, lots of options out there.)
Thank you. Haven't gotten involved in local politics yet. Will have to start attending meetings.
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