Tuesday is the last day to cast your vote and have your voice represented in our electorate. If you haven’t voted yet, Tuesday is it. Do not leave any stone unturned, and when this is all said and done, the work does not end. We must keep voting rights in the endless stream of ideas flowing through our civil discourse, and remain conscious of the various barriers people have to face in the fight for representation. 

The state of our nation has shifted completely in recent memory, and The Paisano has been the voice of UTSA during some of the most trying times in modern history. Roadrunners’ resentful, zealous, heartfelt and often pissed-off thoughts have fostered valuable discourse within our community — but Nov. 3 is the day we can establish a government that is representative of everyone, especially those who have remained voiceless due to generations of meticulously designed methods of voter suppression. Voting access must be considered a right, not a privilege, and continuing to advocate for causes that ensure the voiceless have representatives who are fighting to get them a seat at the table is essential in our progress. Electing officials who will make certain we all have a seat at the table is paramount to the progression of Texas, and the nation entirely.

Everyone is eager to get their message across to readers within our community, and now it’s time to deliver those same messages to our local, state and national candidates. These conversations matter; we can’t forget how imperative journalism, more specifically student journalism is to the fabric of U.S. democracy. 

But our civic duty can not be limited to conversations, tweets, posts or whatever outlets we have used to speak our mind: Your spoken truth must be taken to the ballot box. While polarization has plagued the nation, having a democracy that is representative of communities just like UTSA in our government is paramount to our nation. 

Voters should not be faced with intimidation at the polls, and it is our government’s duty to ensure we all have safe and simple access to voting. Every vote should count, and we cannot afford to stop advocating for the countless disenfranchised members of our community. After all the dust settles following next week’s results, voting access must be at the forefront of conversations occurring within our government, and those who have access, yet simply refuse to vote, should reflect on how indispensable the franchise really is.

With four days left until election night, it is not too late to vote. Today is the final day of early voting, and next Tues. will be the final opportunity to cast your vote. UTSA’s polling location is located at the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, and polling stations are open Friday, Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the last day of early voting. Election Day voting will be available as well from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom. As long as you are in line before 7 p.m., you will be able to cast your vote. If you run into issues during your time at the polls, you can call the Election Protection hotline at 866-687-8683. 

The last four years, The Paisano has printed and published your thoughts, passions and feelings about the state of our democracy. Student journalism has become a catalyst for civic discourse, with every commentary or article sparking meaningful conversations within our community. Take those feelings to the polls and vote like our nation is on the line.