By Karen and Erica

Today is Election Day. Please, vote.

First of all, voting in a U.S. election is a powerful and exclusive privilege. Only U.S. citizens get to determine who is going to run the best country in the world. Vote with pride.

Second, you owe it to your communities—the communities created by your neighborhood, your religious institution, your children’s school, your job. You also belong to the civic community of your country. That community imposes duties upon you—obey laws, pay taxes, jury duty. The most important, and least burdensome, is the duty to vote.

Third, like Oprah said, you owe it to those who came before you and were denied the right to vote. Vote for them.

Fourth, it’s fun. You’ll see your neighbors at the polling place, and after the polls close you get to participate in the excitement of finding out who won. Of course you can do that anyway, by exercising a negative vote and not showing up. But it’s much more energizing when you have skin in the game.

Finally, is the weather just awful? So what! You are tough!

Please, go vote.