Civic Engagement, American History & Community

An American frontier spirit, a little women’s history & a reminder that having a say starts with showing up.

🇺🇸 Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of Americans declared their independence and set a new nation in motion. Today, 250 years later, we still have an opportunity and a responsibility to help shape what comes next.

Today, I proudly cast my ballot.

I put on my blue sweater, grabbed my flat-brim hat & headed to the polls. I voted for our next state governor, state and local officials, propositions, referendums & a local levy and transportation tax increase. There was plenty to consider!

While standing in line, I had the pleasure of chatting with my neighbors, exchanging conversation & getting to know a few people a little better. It was a simple but wonderful reminder that community isn’t just about where you live. It’s about the people who live there with you.

And that’s really what voting is about.

It’s about having a voice in the decisions that affect our everyday lives, our neighborhoods, our businesses, our families & the future of our communities.

A little American history, with an Idaho connection

This year, America celebrates its 250th anniversary. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, establishing the ideals of a new nation founded on liberty, independence & the belief that people should have a say in their own government.

Of course, the American story has never been perfect. The freedoms expressed in our founding documents were not extended equally to everyone & generations of Americans have worked, organized, protested & persevered to expand those rights.

One of the most significant chapters in that story is women’s right to vote.

Here’s a historical fact I find particularly fascinating.

On December 10, 1869, Wyoming Territory became the first government in the United States to enact legislation granting women the right to vote and hold public office. Wyoming eventually became known as the Equality State & when it joined the Union in 1890, it retained women’s suffrage.

But here’s where the story gets even more interesting for those of us living in Idaho.

On November 3, 1896, Idaho voters approved a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.

Yes, November 3!

Exactly 130 years before I walked into my polling place in 2026, Idaho voters were making history.

The amendment passed with 12,126 votes in favor and 6,282 opposed. Following a question about the official ballot count, the Idaho Supreme Court unanimously confirmed its passage on December 24, 1896.

Idaho became one of the earliest states in the country to extend full voting rights to women, more than two decades before the 19th Amendment was ratified nationally in 1920.

And there’s another interesting piece of Idaho history: In 1898, Clara Campbell, Hattie Noble & Mary Wright became the first women elected to the Idaho House of Representatives.

Think about that. A ballot measure, decided by voters, helped open the door for women to participate more fully in shaping Idaho’s future.

The right to vote didn’t simply appear. People worked for it.

And that history deserves to be remembered.

Voting is more than a political exercise

I think sometimes we get so caught up in the political noise that we forget what a privilege it is to participate in our constitutional republic with a representative democracy.

We debate. We disagree. We have different experiences, values, priorities & ideas about what is best for our country.

That’s okay!

You can vote Democrat, Republican, Independent, or for a candidate who doesn’t fit neatly into either party. You can have strong opinions about national politics while caring deeply about a local school levy, transportation improvements, public safety, or the people representing your community.

Your vote doesn’t have to look like your neighbor’s vote.

In fact, it shouldn’t necessarily.

The beauty of our constitutional republic with a representative democracy, is that people have the opportunity to express their preferences & participate in choosing the people & policies that shape their government.

But that opportunity comes with some personal responsibility.

If you want your voice heard, you have to use it.

Showing up starts in your own backyard

Community involvement has become an important part of my life.

Earlier this year, in May, I graduated from the Leadership program through the Nampa Chamber of Commerce. I’m currently participating in the City of Nampa Police Department’s Citizen’s Academy, with graduation coming up in December.

Before moving to Idaho, I was a member and Ambassador of the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County from 2018–2022. I genuinely loved being involved in that community and connecting with the people, businesses &  organizations working to make the region a better place.

Each experience has reinforced something I believe:

Strong communities don’t happen by accident. They are built by people who care enough to get involved.

You don’t have to run for office, lead an organization, or hold a fancy title to make a difference.

Sometimes it’s attending a city council meeting. Sometimes it’s volunteering, supporting a local business, joining a neighborhood conversation, learning about your police department, or simply getting to know the people who live around you.

And sometimes, it’s standing in line at your local polling place and casting a ballot.

All of it matters.

My two cents: If you didn’t vote, don’t complain.

Now, I’m going to get a little opinionated.

I believe people have every right to complain about their government, their elected officials, their taxes, their community & the decisions being made on their behalf.

But if you care enough to complain about the outcome, you should care enough to participate in the process.

If you complain about election results but didn’t bother to vote, you missed your opportunity to make your voice count. Period.

Squeaky wheels get oil.

Want a different governor? Vote.

Want different local leadership? Vote.

Have an opinion about a transportation tax, school funding, public safety, or a ballot proposition? Do your homework and vote.

Don’t like the direction something is going? Get involved. Speak up. Make your position known.

And remember, voting is just one part of civic engagement. It doesn’t end when you put your ballot in the box. Stay informed, pay attention, ask questions & continue participating after Election Day.

You don’t get to influence the outcome by sitting on the sidelines.

You don’t have to agree to participate together

Here’s something else I wish we could all remember.

You don’t have to agree with someone politically to be a good neighbor.

You don’t have to vote the same way to have a conversation, share a meal, lend a helping hand, or work together to improve your community.

Today, while waiting in line to vote, I enjoyed talking with my neighbors. We didn’t need to have identical opinions or political preferences to share a pleasant moment.

That’s America, too!

Our differences don’t have to divide us. We can disagree respectfully, listen to different perspectives & recognize that we all have a stake in the communities we call home.

I think there’s something pretty wonderful about that.

The next 250 years are still being written

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I find myself thinking about the generations who came before us.

The people who fought for independence. Those who worked to expand voting rights. The women who organized and persevered so future generations could have a voice. The citizens who stepped forward to serve their communities, lead organizations, run for office & make a difference.

They didn’t all agree. They didn’t all share the same vision. But their participation helped shape the country we live in today.

And now it’s our turn.

We don’t have to agree on every issue. We don’t have to belong to the same political party. We don’t even have to like every decision that gets made.

But we do have an opportunity to participate.

So, whether you’re 18 or 88, whether you’re voting for the first time or the fiftieth, whether your ballot is red, blue, or somewhere in between, take the time to learn about the issues, understand your choices & exercise your right to vote.

Because your voice matters.

Your vote matters.

And your community needs people who are willing to show up.

Don’t just complain. Participate. Make yourself heard. VOTE.

Here’s to America, our communities & the next 250 years.

🇺🇸 Happy Election Day!

— Amberly Rouge