Voting Is Not Only a Right but a Privilege

Today I will cast my first ballot ever. I could not even vote during the primaries because I was not yet a citizen. When you cast your ballot today, remember that you are not only exercising your right to vote, but you are participating in a civic activity that is denied to thousands of people around the world who cannot choose who leads them.

Furthermore, as a citizen who had to undergo a long and tedious naturalization process, I urge you never to take your right to vote for granted. Many immigrants who are residents choose not to become citizens because it costs too much. When I applied for citizenship last year, my application cost $400. Today, an application costs more than $600. To top it all, many applicants will hire lawyers to ensure that their applications are filled out accurately and won't be denied due to technicalities that are sometimes overlooked. The process ends up costing applicants thousands of dollars. Many immigrants can not afford that or run into debt in order to become citizens.

So, do the right thing by voting today and always remember what a sacred right voting is.