The power enshrined in voting cannot be understated. Electing candidates and ballot measures that advance equity for all children is vital. So, what can you do to make certain that your right to vote—and everyone else’s—is fully realized? You can start by checking out our voting guides below.

From the moment the first European settlers arrived on its shores until present day, the United States has engaged in upholding—and restricting—the access and right to vote, depending on gender, race, and other factors. Indeed, while white men have long enjoyed this sacred privilege, women and people of color had to struggle for centuries to partake in the voting process: (white) women finally received the right to vote in 1920. Black men initially gained it during Reconstruction in 1870, but were largely prevented from exercising it, especially in the South, via poll taxes, literary tests, and other discriminatory practices. With the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Black men and women were finally able to fully exercise their civic rights under the law.

Unfortunately, some policymakers and legislative bodies, although sworn to ensure that every eligible citizen can freely vote in elections, have made it their mission to curtail access to the polls. From gerrymandering and eliminating polling stations and extended hours in primarily Black communities, to the devastating, partial overturn of a key provision in the Voting Rights Act in 2013, to the intentional exclusion of formerly incarcerated individuals from the voting process (which, again, predominately impacts Black people), voter suppression has become de rigeur. And it is no surprise, really: those who seek to disenfranchise voters know that their (oftentimes) bluntly racist, sexist, homophobic and generally discriminatory policies will not stand if we, the people, go to the polls to vote against them and their purveyors.

If you value equity and want to ensure its place in the electoral process and the laws that govern your city, state or the country, you won’t want to cast your vote blindly. These guides concisely lay out the importance, criteria and benefits of both equitable policies and candidates that promote the health and well-being of children and families. While it might seem cliché to state, “Vote as if your life depends on it,” the underlying sentiment holds true: what and whom you vote for are intertwined and can directly impact your quality of life and that of loved ones.