You should vote in this year’s election

Ishaan Nandwani, Opinions Editor

It may not be the infamous 2020 Trump vs. Biden showdown, but that doesn’t make this election any less important.

This year in Richmond City, we are electing a representative to the U.S. House of Representatives, who will be tasked with drafting and voting on legislation in Congress in the best interest of our district.

The Candidates:

The two candidates are the incumbent representative, Donald McEachin (D-Virginia, 4th District), and Republican Leon Benjamin Sr. McEachin previously defeated Benjamin in the 2020 House Election for Virginia’s 4th District, capturing 61.6% of the vote.

McEachin is a former attorney and legislator who has introduced legislation to prevent the climate crisis and fought to improve funding for Richmond Public Schools.

Benjamin is a Richmond native and former Navy veteran advocating for a conservative platform that includes closing the southern border and preventing the increase of gas prices and inflation.

As a representative, McEachin’s work has most notably focused on environmental justice; bills that he has recently sponsored or co-sponsored include establishing an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice and requiring that the secretary of the interior and Chief of the Forest Service comply with the president’s goals for reducing emissions on public lands and waters.

Benjamin is the senior pastor of New Life Harvest Church in Richmond and founded the Coalition of Leaders United, which is focused on “proclaim[ing] the value of human life in a conservative light” through teaching and social media.

While my stances and priorities, such as addressing the climate crisis, align with those of McEachin, this isn’t me telling you who to vote for — just that you do vote. I encourage you to do your research and make your own informed decision about who you would like to see in Congress.

Voting Information:

Although registration to vote online or via mail has passed, you can still register in-person at an Early Voting location or on Election Day. Early Voting has been open since Sept. 23 and closes on Nov. 5. Election Day falls on Nov. 8 this year.

Voting is particularly accessible for VCU students, which makes it even more important for us to vote, on behalf of those who can’t. You can use your student ID card to register to vote, and polling locations are located close to or on campus.

Early Voting is available at City Hall on East Broad Street, which is two stops from the VCU & VUU Westbound Station on the GRTC Pulse. On Election Day, voting will be available at the University Student Commons for many students on campus; you can verify your polling location through the Virginia Department of Elections portal. We even have the day off from classes on Election Day, which is yet another incentive to get out and vote.

For information on other polling locations in Richmond City, mail-in ballots and accommodations, see the election tab on the city’s official website.

Why it Matters:

Voting is an opportunity for us to participate in our democracy and be informed, educated citizens. Even if a result seems certain, there is great value in engaging with the process and understanding the nuances of the issues the candidates are fighting for.

Additionally, the truth is that an outcome is never guaranteed; if you want to see change, it’s up to you to show up and vote. Every vote counts — join me in making sure that yours is one of them.