The Shadow
In the Future, Vote!
As residents of Virginia, we have the privilege of voting in elections every year.
This tradition differs from most other states, who usually vote every two years for federal, state and local offices.
Because of this tradition, voters have to consistently pay attention to the news to stay engaged on election information.
For many people, daily needs tend to dominate our immediate focus. Job outlooks and family matters occupy our minds more than political matters.
Some may lose sight of responsibilities that do not seem as important, such as our civic duty to participate in our constitutional republic’s elections.
As President Abraham Lincoln said, it is a government “of,” “by” and “for” the people.
Participation in the election process is embodied in Lincoln’s “of” and “by” the people. “For” the people is what your elected officials strive to do at the local, state and federal levels.
There are many opportunities for involvement in the election process.
Registering people to vote, knocking on doors and organizing community events are just some of the activities used by local grassroots groups.
Realistically, these activities consume a lot more time and effort than most folks can afford.
The simplest of civic duties, and the one that I believe is the most important, is to actually show up to vote!
A founding principle of our great United States was to give the people a say in governing. And over time, we have seen great success in the expansion of voting rights and suffrage.
As I have said before, I firmly believe that one of the core foundations of our constitutional republic is to vote in our elections. Adopting this mindset by the public would help influence public discourse, inform policymaking and drive government action!
Therefore, a more politically engaged and active public means healthier and more robust representation.
Unfortunately, many Americans do not feel this way and choose not to vote. They grow disillusioned with our system and feel like their voices are ignored.
This belief prevails in many parts of the country, including our region.
I often hear from people that we do not get a fair shake in representation.
In their eyes, government only works for certain parts of the state, like Northern Virginia, and leaves the rest of us in the dust.
Therefore, they reason, what is the point in voting?
While I can sympathize with their frustrations, this thinking is counterproductive.
We can compare Virginia’s Ninth District to Virginia’s Eighth District, which is located just outside DC.
The Eighth is the polar opposite from the Ninth both geographically and ideologically. The Eighth votes overwhelmingly progressive, while the Ninth votes overwhelmingly conservative.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau via the 2024 American Community Survey, Virginia’s Ninth District is home to 782,270 people.
In Virginia’s Eighth District, the population totals 788,825 people.
The 2025 voter registration numbers paint similar pictures.
In fact, the Virginia Department of Elections says the Ninth District has approximately 20,000 more registered voters than the Eighth in 2025!
But in the 2025 election, the Ninth had a lower turnout overall. For example, the City of Norton had 40% turnout, while Falls Church in the Eighth had a 63% turnout!
Although roughly similar in population size and voter registration, the Eighth consistently shows a greater propensity to vote.
Analysis by the U.S. Census Bureau confirms this. The 2018 Congressional elections saw Virginia’s Eighth District turn out at a 17.4% higher rate than Virginia’s Ninth District!
Because of this reality, it leads to a sense that Northern Virginia runs the show!
And it is why some politicians in Richmond give less attention to the Ninth.
But if more of our communities had greater participation in elections, policy would more accurately reflect the will of our region!
As the son of a civics teacher, my mother instilled in me the strong belief that no matter your political persuasion, everybody ought to vote and participate in our elections.
Additionally, as your Congressman, I will always highlight the importance of registering to vote and participating in Southwest Virginia, Southside Virginia and Central Virginia elections.
Moreover, I will continue to listen to your opinions. While we may not agree on everything, I am a firm believer in civil discourse and discussion.
We hold the keys to determining our future.
So in the future, let’s all get out and vote!
If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives.
