Meet an outside perspective

The ability to vote is one that, historically, has not been bestowed to every American. A quarter of all the amendments made to our Constitution have been in relation to voting. 

Now, voting is a right granted and protected for all Americans, regardless of race or gender identity. 

History teacher Michael Vereb encourages all eligible voters, whether students or staff, to do one thing.

“Vote. Period.”  

Election periods over the last several years have been tumultuous nationwide, whether large political parties clash or heated debates rage on at the dinner table. Loudoun has experienced these disagreements firsthand.

“I think sometimes we apply malicious intent to this unknown opposition,” Vereb said, explaining how many people put up barriers, preventing the facilitation of healthy political discourse. 

 “By applying malicious intent to a party or an opposition that you don’t know, you lose the opportunity to learn about why they are feeling that way, why they are voting that way,” Vereb said. 

Though Vereb had no direct advice for the demographic of students unable to vote yet, he did speak of a poster of John Lewis marching for the right to vote he has in his classroom.

“I could decorate my room more,” he said. “But I also like that if you saw one poster in my room, it is the message of being able to vote and have your voice heard.” 

Students everyday are in Vereb’s classroom for U.S. History or AP Human Geography. Though nearly all of them cannot vote, Vereb nevertheless tries to instill the importance of voting. 

For the students who are eligible to vote in this year’s elections, Vereb offered some advice.
“Figure out what you care about,” he said. “Then do research. Make sure that the candidate that best matches that philosophy, or that single issue you care most about, is the one that gets your vote.” 

While national and statewide elections often get the spotlight in November, Vereb points out how not all elections are weighed equally in the eyes of the public.

“Local elections, I think, are often overlooked,” Vereb said. “Purcellville’s Town council elections used to be separate from the other elections. Now, they’re on the same day to increase voter participation.” 

He also spoke of how voter numbers have increased due to a distrust of polling data, detailing how people are less likely to vote if they already know which candidate is going to win. 

“I don’t know who will win out because I don’t trust the data, I’m going to go vote,” Vereb said. “And more votes is better.” 

Regardless of motive, Vereb sees more citizens going to the polls as a positive side effect.

 “I think everybody wins when more people get their voices heard through the ballot box,” Vereb said.