The first time my mother voted she was fifty-four years old. No, she wasn’t lazy or indifferent or simply too busy.  My mother was an immigrant who, after having been in this country since she was nineteen, finally decided it was time to make her voice heard.

It might have been the decades she endured listening to my father talk about his beloved Republican Party (this was the party of fiscal conservatives who “stayed out of your wallets AND your private lives” not today’s variation who divorce three times and then talk about family values). At some point my mother decided enough was enough and, after years of being a “visitor”, she finally gave up the last official tie to her homeland, Norway, and became an American citizen.

In all of the years before she could vote, my mother was adamant that we did. So, in 1980, when I turned eighteen and was off in college, she called me to make sure I had sent in the materials to register out-of-state. “You can’t miss out on your first chance to vote in a presidential election!” she said. She was more excited than I was. 

Over Christmas that year, she crowed, “Well, the Democrats didn’t win, but at least your vote cancelled out your father’s!” At the time, I was too embarrassed to admit I never did send in the materials; being a college student seemed more important than national politics. I was too lazy, indifferent and busy to do my civic duty.

By the 1984 presidential election, she wasn’t going to let me make any excuses. She sent me all of the necessary materials, called me daily until I finally filled out the forms, and then called again to make sure I filled out the actual ballot. 

During those conversations, we discussed the pros and cons of the candidates, the local propositions, and the general political climate. It was clear my mother, who had never gone to college and who at the time was not a citizen, was far more informed than I was. I promised not to let her down. That year, I cancelled out my father’s vote, alas to no avail.

By 1996, when my mother was finally able to cast her first vote, my father was no longer singing the praises of the Republicans. That year, they both voted Democrat. My mother proudly wore her “I voted” sticker for days afterwards and probably still has it saved in some memento box or another.

As a woman who spent her early childhood under Nazi occupation, my mother is passionate about the importance of voting. She was appalled when she read a US Census report stating that only 64 percent of Americans actually voted in the last presidential election. But what dismays her the most is the low rate of voter participation among newly naturalized citizens. In 2008, barely more than half of them voted. 

She calls it “shameful”. But there are valid reasons for why new citizens don’t vote. First, for all the hype, it’s just not that easy to register. Language barriers, discrimination, understanding the very nature of voting itself are just few of the reasons why new citizens find it overwhelming. Additionally, as I well know, it takes time and effort and commitment. A recent report noted that most naturalized citizens state they would vote if registering was less complicated and more accessible.

The good news is that now it just might be. A newly adopted policy by the Justice Department requires new Americans be provided a voter registration application at all administrative naturalization ceremonies by the United States Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS). Let’s hope they take the time to fill out the forms.

Are you registered? If not, do as my recently turned eighteen year old son did and go to www.rockthevote.com. They make it easy to register by allowing you to print out you all of the materials you will need. You just have to fill out the forms and send them in. Of course, unlike my mother, they won’t call you ever other day to make sure you did. Now that would be a useful service!

Click here for registration forms in languages other than English and...VOTE! It took me awhile, but I have my mother to thank for helping me understand there is no excuse good enough to pass up this essential right of citizenship.