This week, my son John and I went to vote early in our local elections. Voting together has long become a ritual for us. Before he was old enough to vote, I would take him into the old voting machines with me. Now, we vote side-by-side.

We look forward to it, not just because we care about who’s on the ballot, but because John treats voting as a responsibility, a right, and a joy.

Voting Matters to John, to People with Differing Abilities, to All of Us

“I vote in every election,” John says. “That’s what citizens do, and I want to be a good citizen. I want to have my voice heard.”

John has never missed an election. Not once. It doesn’t matter if it’s a presidential race or an off-year town vote. He knows that every election matters, and he lives by that belief.

Most people get energized about national elections, but John understands that real change often begins at the local level. “It’s important to vote in town elections so that I have a say in how Huntington is run,” he told me this year. He’s right. The decisions made by our local town board or county officials affect our roads, schools, safety, and the inclusiveness of our communities.

Preparing to Vote: With Us, Not For Us

What’s especially meaningful is how John prepares to vote. He does his homework. He reads campaign material, studies interviews with the candidates, and looks at candidate profiles in the newspaper. He asks questions, not about who he should vote for, but to better understand the issues. That’s in keeping with his motto: “With us, not for us.”

John doesn’t want someone else deciding for him; he makes his own informed choices. He plans when and where he’ll vote, treats it like a special occasion, and walks into the polling place with his head held high. Watching him cast his ballot is a reminder of what democracy looks like when we take it seriously and joyfully.

Inclusion Includes our Communities and Electoral Process

In a world where many people still question the abilities of those with disabilities, John flips the narrative. He’s not only a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of John’s Crazy Socks, but he’s also a fully engaged citizen. His commitment to civic life is just another way he shows what people with differing abilities can do and why it’s so important to include *everyone* in the decisions that shape our society.

We talk a lot about inclusion in the workplace, schools, and the media. But we also need inclusion in our communities and electoral process. That means making sure people with disabilities know their rights, have access to the polls, and feel empowered to vote, not just in theory, but in practice.

If you’re reading this and haven’t made your voting plan yet, take a page from John’s book. Look up your local races. Read about the candidates. Ask questions. Show up.

John will be there: smiling, prepared, and proud. And he’ll be spreading happiness all the way to the ballot box.