What the vote means to me
Turning eighteen is a pretty big deal, suddenly you can buy alcohol, serve on a jury, buy fireworks and sue or be sued, just to name a few. Of the rather interesting and sometimes random things that you can do once you reach eighteen, I see voting as an incredibly significant opportunity and responsibility. Voting is significant to me for lots of reasons, but many of these reasons boil down to two aspects of my character. My womanhood and my faith in Jesus are two pivotal parts of who I am and why I hold the right to vote in such high regard.
I voted for the first time in 2016 and voted in my first general election in 2017. This was incredibly exciting to me as finally I 
could channel my voice and my thoughts straight into a cross in a box. I remember getting a “well done” from the volunteers at my local polling station and feeling excited to know that my voice was being heard and that was a good thing. Responding to Jesus’ call to pursue social justice is incredibly significant to me. I am actively trying to shape my life around acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly. Voting and choosing to politically engage is a big part of this. The right to vote allows us to think responsibly about how our vote seeks to pursue social justice. It allows us a platform to seek out and push politicians and political parties to be just, merciful and humble in their decision-making.
While we celebrate one hundred years since the first women in the UK were granted the right to vote, it is still important to never lose sight of this inequality within voting that reigned for so long. If ever I begin to lose sight of the significance of this responsibility, I remember that I owe my ability to vote to the women who fought tirelessly that my voice might be heard. To them I say thank you and to them I dedicate each and every one of my trips to the polling station.
Mollie
Student, Christian and feminist.