Photo courtesy of Shelby Robertson
Tori Lemon
Lantern Staff
This year is the very first year I can vote in the presidential election, and I hate most of the candidates.
It is no secret that our right to vote has been a victory that was long fought for. It is also no secret that there are still many people out there whose voice cannot be heard in the voting polls.
Even still today, there are a large majority of people who are not allowed to vote or who are discriminated against with the voting requirements.
For that reason, I will not abstain from voting even if I hate the candidates. Period.
Our job, as an American and as a decent human being, is to speak for those who cannot yet be heard. In this case, speaking out is all in the presidential candidate I choose to vote for.
This election is not solely about you. It is not solely about me. It is about the United States as a whole. It is about the place we call home.
Many people will be walking into the voting booth on Tuesday, Nov. 8 thinking they only have three options for voting in this year’s presidential election- Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or simply not voting at all.
They could be thinking, “Trump is a misogynist, racist man” or “Clinton is a murderous, untrustworthy woman.” If you look at that from face value, it would make sense to simply not vote at all. Right?
That is wrong. Absolutely, 100 percent wrong.
Believe it or not, there are more than two candidates running for this election. Third party candidates are often forgotten once the election comes around. The fact that voters can write in a candidate, if their state allows it, is often overlooked as well.
Just like that, your options should grow from more than just Trump and Clinton. It is your job and your privilege to do thorough research, to apply that research and to get out there and vote.
Even if the candidate you loathe is destined to win in a landslide, you still need to vote. You have the opportunity to make a dent in their margin of victory. That limits how much of a “mandate” they can claim once in office, which in turn encourages them to promote more moderate policies so they do not jeopardize their potential re-election.
Not voting is not the solution to having bad candidates, at all.
On top of just voting for the leader of our country, there are other important state and local officeholders on the ballot to be voted for. That is where your voice will be heard the most.
In elections such as this one, the mindset has been to pick the lesser of the evils. That, unfortunately, is what it comes down to.
Not voting is not synonymous with lowering the chances of a candidate potentially becoming president.
If you personally are indifferent on the election, it is time to look at those around you who can and cannot vote and decide what would be in their best interest and in the best interest of our country as a whole.
