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Vote! Your Right and Responsibility

Claudia Nohemi Gomez Castillo

BEFORE YOU READ:
What are rights and responsibilities? List some that U.S. citizens have. As you read, note the vocabulary words in bold italics. If you’re not sure what they mean, try to figure it out using context clues.

Make a Change by Voting
Do you want to continue with the current policy or make a change? The elections are important. Elections give you a chance to say how you feel about what is happening in this country. When you vote, you use your voice to say how you feel. This is your right. It is also your responsibility.

I am the mother of two girls. I need to have two jobs to sustain my family. Inflation is affecting us. The prices of gas, rent, and electricity are very high. I want the next president to make sure people earn a living wage. I want him or her to control inflation.

I would like to see more doors open for immigrants. For example, we need jobs that pay a living wage. We need to be able to get a green card, so we can work. We want a more stable life.

We immigrants support this country a lot. We do hard jobs, and we pay taxes. If we have more opportunities, we could support it even more.

But Verify What You Read
How do you know who to vote for? During an election year, there is a lot of fake news. We must always verify the source. We must look for reporters with good integrity. When you read the news, ask yourself, “Who benefits from the information? What is the purpose of the information? Is it for propaganda? Or is it genuine?”

Remember, voting is a right and a responsibility. When you vote, you are saying what type of government you want. You are saying what you want for your community. But to make a good decision, make sure you are not listening to fake news.

AFTER YOU READ:
1. According to the author, why should we vote? And what do we need to be careful about?
2. With the next election, what changes does the author want? What changes do you want?
3. To learn more about how to verify sources, read the article and graphic on pp. 6-7.

Claudia Nohemi Gomez Castillo is a student at Ysleta Community Learning Center in El Paso, Texas. She is a mother, wife, and working woman. Ten years ago at age 21, she migrated from Honduras seeking a better life for herself and her daughter. Since then, she has learned a lot about the experiences of immigrants. She says, “Never stop chasing your dreams. You are never too old to strive for something better.”

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