Less than half.
Less than half of US citizens fulfill their responsibilities.
Less than half of US citizens are active members of a democracy.
Choosing not to vote is a vote. A vote that could drastically change the outcome of an election. Voting is an expectation, something you simply must do.
Yes, there will be times when you like neither candidate.
Yes, each president comes with flaws.
Yes, there will always be beliefs and ideas that you don’t agree with.
Whether you feel voting is unnecessary because you don’t like either party or are unsure who to vote for, not voting is surrendering your basic rights as a citizen.
We hear time and time again people saying we need Trump back because we need his tax policy back. However, these people are not educated enough to understand what that really means. The specific policies and powers that a president holds are often misunderstood. Everyone is free to have their own opinion, but an opinion backed by facts is the only acceptable kind.
This means getting out of your echo chamber. Whatever you want to find on the internet depends on how you search. Ensure that you are getting a diversity of information. Regardless of how you affiliate, there should be consumption of all kinds of information. Relying solely on Fox News isn’t reasonable, but neither is a reliance solely on CNN. In order to create a holistic and well-informed opinion, you must understand every perspective.
Look at Charlie Kirk: a man on TikTok who goes to colleges preaching about how abortion should be illegal, why college is stupid, and why everyone should vote for Trump. He converses with people on the campuses, not to learn both sides, but to “transform people.” This is a prime example of why developing an opinion based solely on a TikTok video, Instagram post, or Snapchat story, is unacceptable and potentially dangerous. There are never facts presented in Charlie Kirk’s arguments. He is spewing information without rebuttal, and unless well-informed, it’s easy to fall into a trap of misinformation.
When casting your vote you have an obligation to know more than surface-level facts. Saying everyone deserves freedom and cutting off women’s rights to health care is abominable. It’s not just one side. You have to be knowledgeable of both the pros and cons of both parties. One way to do that is by educating yourself on what each party stands for.
Choosing a vote based on a label isn’t acceptable. Your vote matters. It will make a difference–a difference you may not understand because you are not educated to the point you need to be. Calling 18-year-olds uneducated because it’s their first time voting is wrong. There are politically ignorant people all over the world, just because of what their families taught them.
Leading your life based purely on what you’re taught to believe or what you find on the internet is denying yourself a great power you hold. Just because your parents have an opinion doesn’t mean it needs to be yours. The power to vote is a great one, but it has to be wielded with thought. There is nothing more powerful than your voice; don’t misuse it. Your vote should not be a reflection of your parents, friends, or anyone else.
You need to educate yourself. You need to vote. You need to realize your vote counts.
