Ask me Quote by Howard Zinn
“When some people ask me about voting, they would say will you support this candidate or that candidate? I say: "I will support this candidate for one minute that I am in the voting booth. At that moment I will support A versus B, but before I am going to the voting booth, and after I leave the voting booth, I am going to concentrate on organizing people and not organizing electoral campaign."”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on political activism, 1990s
The speaker separates voting from broader activism, viewing the ballot as a brief, specific act, while dedicating most effort to organizing outside campaigns.
In simple terms: Voting is a short act; organizing is the long work.
Key Takeaway
Focus on organizing beyond the ballot.
Themes
politics
activism
civic duty
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
advice
political commentary
When to use this quote
- election season
- community meetings
- grassroots campaigns
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
democracy
strategic engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance voting with ongoing activism?
- What organizing actions can amplify your impact after voting?
A Different Perspective
Voting alone does not change systemic issues; sustained organizing is needed.
![“[People] are ready to go out and vote. There's a difference between being ready and energized and actually going out and voting.” quote by Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/deb/julian-castro-9410_differences_people-are-ready-to-go-out-and-vote-ther_488831.jpg)
