You may not know Paul Weyrich by name, but his ideas have shaped much of American politics for the last 50 years. He helped start groups like the Heritage Foundation and the Moral Majority, which pushed for conservative values and policies. He also said something shocking that still matters today: “I don’t want everybody to vote.”
Why would anyone say that?
Because the fewer people who vote, the easier it is for certain groups to stay in power. When fewer people—especially poor people, young people, and people of color—take part in elections, the system leans more toward the interests of those who already hold influence. It’s not just about politics. It’s about control.
That’s why it’s so important to understand what’s happening when powerful people don’t want you to vote—and what you can do to protect your voice.
Why They Don’t Want You to Vote
Let’s be real: voting isn’t always easy. Depending on where you live, you might deal with long lines, limited polling places, voter ID laws, or confusing registration rules. These things don’t happen by accident. They’re often designed to make voting harder for certain groups of people.
Back in the day, laws like literacy tests and poll taxes were used to stop Black Americans from voting. Today, the methods are different but the purpose is the same. Make it harder, more frustrating, or even scary to vote, and fewer people will try.
Paul Weyrich didn’t want “everybody” to vote because he knew the numbers. When more people show up to vote—especially young people and working-class people—elections tend to swing away from the policies he wanted. He said it out loud, but many others still work quietly toward that same goal.
If You’re the Target, You’re Also the Key
If you’ve ever felt like politics doesn’t care about people like you, you’re not alone. And sadly, that feeling is often part of the plan. If people feel discouraged, disconnected, or ignored, they’re less likely to get involved. And that’s exactly what some groups are hoping for.
But here’s the truth: if someone is trying to make it harder for you to vote, that means your vote matters. If your voice didn’t have power, they wouldn’t work so hard to silence it.
What You Can Do
The first step is simple: decide to stay in the game. Even if it feels like no one is listening, even if the process seems messy or slow, don’t give up your right to participate. Power doesn’t give itself away. It gets taken back when enough people come together and demand better.
It’s not just about showing up on Election Day, though. There are ways to make a difference all year round. Learn how to register and help others do the same. Watch for attempts to close polling places or limit early voting, and speak out when it happens. Ask questions about who’s running and what they really stand for—not just what they say in campaign ads.
And if you’re young, don’t wait until “someday” to get involved. Start now. Your future is on the line, and the earlier you get into the habit of voting, the more likely you are to keep doing it for life.
The Fight Isn’t Over
Throughout history, people have risked their lives for the right to vote. From the Civil Rights Movement in the United States to democracy protests around the world, everyday people have stood up against those who tried to shut them out. We honor them not just by remembering their names, but by continuing the work.
That means fighting voter suppression wherever it shows up. That means pushing for policies that make voting easier, not harder—like same-day registration, automatic voter sign-up, and making Election Day a national holiday. That means calling out lies about “election fraud” when they’re used as excuses to take away people’s rights.
Paul Weyrich believed low voter turnout was good for his side. And he was right—if people stay silent. But we don’t have to.
Your Voice is the Start
If you’ve ever wondered whether voting matters, now you know the answer. It matters so much that powerful people have spent decades trying to make it harder for people like you to do it.
Don’t let them win.
Whether you live in a big city or a small town, whether you’re new to politics or you’ve been paying attention for years, your voice matters. Your vote counts. And your future depends on what you do with it.
No matter how broken the system feels, refusing to participate only helps the people who want it to stay broken.
So read up. Speak out. And most of all—show up.
