The reason that we have the right to sue in Court is because the United States Constitution guarantees a Trial by Jury to resolve our disputes. In order to sustain our democracy, we must also understand that we have certain obligations as members of this society, one of which includes the right (and duty) to vote.
The Court system is run by rules known as the Civil Procedure Law and Rules (also known as “CPLR.”) These rules enable litigants to proceed through the courts in a fair and reasonable manner. These rules are changed and amended as needed. Legislators are usually given proposals that would reflect a need to make changes in the CPLR. One recent example is a proposed change to the Statute of Limitations (the time period that litigants must sue). Lawyers for injured persons, including myself, have gone to Albany and asked legislators to change the Statute of Limitations regarding medical malpractice and to have that statute begin at the “reasonable date of discovery” of the malpractice. This proposal will help (for example) women who have had a mammogram which would have identified a cancer, but a doctor failed to diagnose the cancer.
The reason I mention the importance of voting is because our elected officials (using their political science skills) are able to identify who their constituents are by reviewing voting trends. They can (for example) look at demographics and identify which group in the community are consistently voting. It is for that reason that we must fulfill our obligations under the rules of our democracy and be sure to vote in each and every election. Voting keeps you on the radar of politicians and when you are seeking their help, they are aware of how you vote.