I can understand why a lot of people don’t like to vote or don’t want to vote. By the way, did you know there is an Election Day coming soon on November 5?
One of the most unappealing aspects of voting is not really liking or wanting “either” candidate.
I’m using the “scare quotes” because sometimes “third party” candidates are relevant, thus making the word “either” not applicable.
(Hey, grammar nerds, did you see I used scare quotes around the words “scare quotes”? You’re welcome.)
Back to the problem with said “either” candidates. If you know you’re going to be stuck with one of them, but don’t really want or like either, you may think “Why bother?”
There is always the “lesser of two evils” phrase that is going around, but how bad are things when we are literally picking which “evil” is more preferable?
There is always the option of voting third-party in which your vote will be counted among the one percent or so or less that do the same.
You won’t be stuck voting for Person A and Person B that you do not like, but Person C won’t be able to do much themselves, barely getting noticed.
Then, there are those referendum questions written in a manner to display and spotlight double negatives and other confusing language bound to make anyone not sure what they are saying “yes” or “no” to.
If you aren’t careful, you may be saying that you affirm legalizing certain drugs when you thought you were supporting a new public pool.
Isn’t voting fun?
Then, there is the possibility that voting for this person or that option puts you in a state of mortal sin.
That’s rather serious, isn’t it? It would make voting easier if you’re disqualifying options based on those criteria while at the same time limiting what and who you can select on the ballot.
Then there is just the general negativity that surrounds any election.
Political ads make terrible programming but we get to see a lot of them, especially being in such a “swing” and “purple” state like Wisconsin.
Ads for either side show the opponent as darkly evil and the candidate in question as smiling and shaking hands with everyone.
It gets really confusing when opposite sides are doing the same thing respectively.
I don’t know who is really evil and who is really smiling.
Then, we have the aftermath.
Whoever wins says it was the will of the people and whoever loses says it was the tyranny of the majority. Eh? Is there a better way to settle this?
Knowing and seeing all of this, why would anyone want to vote? I’ll tell you why shortly.
We have to
The right to vote is too valuable and too precious to waste.
It’s worth it to take the time, see what’s on your ballot ahead of time (you can literally click on “What’s On My Ballot” at myvote.wi.gov), and research the candidates and issues to be voted on.
Will one vote make a difference? Maybe, maybe not, but your voice can still be heard.
You have a lot to say. Your voice matters. Your opinion matters. You matter.
Your vote is equal to or just as important as someone who has more money than you, is better looking than you, is more popular than you, and so on.
No offense to the rich, pretty, and popular people out there. We’re all in this together.
Voting is one of the few arenas in which the voices of the people have to be listened to.
Elections are rarely unanimous and sometimes not even decided by a majority, but it’s the best system we have at the moment.
A big challenge is what to do when our “side” doesn’t win. Few people have a perfect voting record where every bubble they have filled in comes out to be the winner.
If your person isn’t in charge or representing you, it’s still your municipality, county, state, and country.
While it’s easy to say the voters have to accept the results, winners need to accept that those who did not vote for them are people too.
Elected officials need to be better than just serving those who voted for them. Put the crayons away, forget what “color” you’re in, and serve the people.
This will make Election Days a lot more palatable for everyone. When we know that even the “other side” is still a part of the process and result.
Why vote?
If none of this has motivated you (or begrudgingly convinced you) to vote, let me give you one more reason, albeit cynical.
Many years ago, I heard the phrase “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain,” e.g., about the outcome, the state of the country, etc.
Therefore, if you vote, you can complain.
That’s a good enough reason for me.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.