Interview by L ShoulterKarall

Why do you vote? Is it a long-established habit or a conscious choice? As we look forward to the November election, I have been asking people in our community what inspires them to vote.

Rahat Sajwani has been voting for six years and believes that it is an incredible tool for ensuring that our elected government officials effectively represent the voters. When she hears comments from potential voters that their one vote can’t create change, she reminds them that it’s incredibly important in local elections and affects their day-to-day life in ways they might not see.

“While in high school, I spent a summer interning at a local aldermanic office in Chicago and learned so much about the vast responsibilities of our local officials - from streets and sanitation, permits and zoning, and budget allocation towards social services. This is why it’s important to stay vigilant and hold our City Council members accountable.”

Rahat’s active participation extends to how she chooses to exercise her right to vote; she learns as much as she can about the candidates, reviews their past voting records and reads what their critics have to say, as well as the candidates’ responses.

For Rahat and her family, the power of voting was evident when Andre Vasquez was elected as the new 40th Ward Alderman. Her family has lived in the 40th Ward for 14 years and were dissatisfied with the Alderman O’Connor’s representation of the residents. They voted for Vasquez and are proud to see his office and our community push for progressive policy changes for our neighbors and all Chicagoans.

“Voting is vitally important for the future of democracy in the United States, but it is also an opportunity for your voice to be heard in a real and meaningful way!”