What Voting Means to Us at Taproot

Taproot was founded nearly 20 years ago on the principle of civic engagement and the belief that we all have talents to share in service of the public good. The highest form of that engagement, and our greatest civic duty, is voting.

We asked members of the Taproot team (or Roots, as we call ourselves) to share their own thoughts about the importance of voting, why they choose to vote, and why volunteer during election season matters to them.

Here’s what Roots had to say about what voting means to them:

• “I vote in memory of the generations of strong, brilliant, and brave women whose resistance and resilience paved the way for me to have a voice in our nation’s future.” – Kimberly Swartz, Marketing and Communications Manager
• “I vote because I deeply care about my communities. I am inextricably tied to the people and places in my life – my fellow Americans who inspire me, the city and state that shapes me, and the neighborhood that raised me. My vote is my power. And with my vote I have the power to give back in this one small but massively important way, directly and unambiguously, to the communities to which I owe my life.” – Kevin Burg, Associate Consultant
• “Politics is power. As a woman with a disability who too often feels a lack of agency due to systemic barriers, I vote to exercise my power as a constituent and for candidates who will protect the rights of the most vulnerable in our communities.” – Alex McArthur, Director and Central Region Market Lead
• “I vote because it’s my civic responsibility and it’s one way I make my voice heard on the issues I care about. Plus, what is Election Day without sending an “I Voted” selfie to all your friends?” – Lilia Hoberman, Senior Associate Consultant
• “I believe that I and every eligible citizen carries an obligation to engage in our democratic process, and voting is the easiest and most important part! We have the tools to advocate and vote for the country we wish to see, but not enough people use them. I vote for my circles and interests, but I advocate for voting so we can realize the collective vision of our country.” – Cameron Barnes, Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships
• “I vote because I don’t want to take for granted the courage and fight of my grandmothers that gave me what I have today. And I want to teach my children the same.” – Kristin Teti, Vice President, Program Operations
• “To me, voting means using my voice to make my values known to the leaders of my city, state and country. It means exercising my civic responsibility to put folks I trust in positions of power to make decisions that will impact my life. This year, I am leveraging my privilege of not having to fight for my vote to help those that do. Thanks to Taproot, I plan to make calls to underrepresented NC residents who have not voted in previous elections to share nonpartisan information about voting during the pandemic. It is a gift to be able to inform and empower others to use their vote as their voice despite physical distancing.” – Meredith Lorch, Product Manager, Taproot Plus
• “Voting is fundamental to our democracy, for every person in it. Women and people of color have fought hard to have that right, and I plan to honor that right by doing my civic duty.” – Mila Gonzalzles, Staff Accountant
• “I remember going to vote with my dad when I was in elementary school. I grew up in a rural area, and our local polling place was housed in a small trucking company’s lobby. I felt such a rush of excitement walking into that voting booth with him. He’d fill out his ballot and let me pull the lever to submit. I even remember getting a prized “I voted” sticker and wearing it with pride throughout the school day. Was that legal? Unsure, but I learned so much through those handful of experiences. Fast forward to today, and that thrill of voting continues for so many reasons. Because my parents instilled in me the gravity and privilege of voting at a very young age. Because it truly is one of my greatest responsibilities as a citizen of this country. Because I know with the power of my vote, I can make my community a better place. And because, secretly, 8-year-old-sticker-afficionado me still gets a rush wearing “I voted” proudly on my shirt.” – Crystal Hendricks-Kretzer, Director, Marketing and Communications

Visit Vote.Org to check on your voter registration, register in a new location, or request your mail-in ballot.

We hope you make a plan to vote in the November 3 election!