North Star Writers Group

I snatched a pamphlet and registered. While I was waiting for a cookie and a few jovial pats on the back, I was reminded of several past elections when I played hooky. It’s one of those oversights we tend not to brag about because we rightly assume that, if we do, someone will drop the, “You have no right to state a political opinion if you don’t even vote” spiel.

Although I disagree with these unpaid sermonizers simply because of my allegiance to the whole “Freedom of Speech” thing, the circumstance did force me to ponder why, in the past, voting has never struck me as one of my solemn duties as an American. I consider myself a staunch nationalist, but for some reason, neglecting to vote never seemed to me a grave offense.

Consider two types of people. On one hand, there is a 19-year-old pothead who never leaves his dorm and couldn’t tell a voting booth from a port-a-potty, much less prop 86 from prop 87. His roommate, however, tells him if he votes for so-and-so, he’ll give him a discount on pot. (His roommate happens to know the politicians.) On the other hand, there are individuals who actually know a little about the proposals and the candidates, and can vote based on what they think will make the country a happier, safer place to live.

There are probably more on the one hand than the other, but even still, it’s somewhat discouraging to know that an educated vote holds no more weight than any other. Pair this with the fact that there has never been an election decided by one vote, and it’s understandable why one might genuinely feel that their vote doesn’t matter. On a similar wavelength, are all votes for third party candidates with no shot wasted votes?

Truly, voting is a frustrating campaign. Even so, there is a noteworthy point, and it’s more than the weightless-from-overuse, “every vote counts,” rhetoric.

My 11^th-grade English teacher told the class that when only half our country votes, it’s like an invitation for an attack. He said it’s as if we’re admitting to not really caring who passes our laws and spends our earnings.

Although the primary reason such a large percentage of Americans doesn’t vote is probably because they feel most politicians lack an ounce of integrity, this alters nothing of the message we’re sending to the rest of the world, which is a message replete with apathy.

By voting, on the other hand, we state that we believe in democracy. Voting says we know our government affects us, and that we intend to affect it, no matter how insignificantly. Voting is a way of acknowledging our smallness, and being grateful for it nonetheless.

I think I understand why some people don’t vote. But I can also understand why someone would consider a non-voter’s political opinions void of all meaning and passion if they don’t even care enough to do what little they can to actually insert their opinions into the grand, political scheme.

Perhaps the most admirable goal, as Americans, is to exemplify the possibilities of a country contrived by principals of freedom. But in order to do this, we must acknowledge that some semblance of a government is necessary. Consequently, if our government is necessary, then we must vote – not as individuals, but as Americans.

We must not throw up our hands in disgust, refusing to hope for positive change. It is not fair to those who value their freedom, their rights and their roles as nationalists.

Ultimately, voting does two things. First, it adds to a number on one side of a ballot. And second, it sends an essentially important message to the rest of the world: As Americans, we have hope.

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This is Column # NS29. Request permission to publish here.