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Vote! Your Right and Responsibility
Claudia Nohemi Gomez Castillo
BEFORE YOU READ:
1. What are rights and responsibilities? List some that U.S. citizens have.
2. 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 make a change? The elections are important. You have a chance to say how you feel about the leaders in this country. When you vote, you use your voice.
This is your right. It is also your responsibility.
Inflation
I am the mother of two girls. I need to have two jobs to take care of 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.
Immigrant Rights
I would like to see more rights for immigrants. For example, we need jobs that pay more. We need to be able to get a green card, so we can work. We want a better life.
We support this country a lot. We do hard jobs. We pay taxes. If we have more rights, we could support it even more.
But Verify What You Read
How do we know who to vote for? Be careful. There is a lot of fake news. We must always check the source. We must look for news that tells the truth. When you read the news, ask yourself, “Who does this news help? What is the purpose of this news? Is it true or not?”
Remember, voting is a right and a responsibility. When you vote, you say what you want. Try to make a good decision. Watch out for fake news.
AFTER YOU READ:
1. According to the author, why should we vote? And what do we need to be careful about?
2. Look at the graph on p. 4. Make several true statements about the data.
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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