Regardless of who you may want to win the election this year, or if you care at all, I think it is crucial to vote in every election you have an ability to vote in. Even if it seems as though all the candidates do not represent you, just the act of voting shows politicians that the voter pool is increasing and that your vote matters. Sure, your vote alone is small, but if one hundred people have a one percent impact on the outcome, isn't that better than having one person with one hundred percent control over the outcome? Even if you don't support Bernie Sanders, I think this quote is powerful and speaks to our current voter percentage:
"A guy named Adolf Hitler won an election in 1932 ... and 50 million people died as a result ... what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important." - Bernie Sanders
A true democracy tries its best to represent the people who are in it. Voting is one of the best ways to do just that. You have probably read articles similar to this before and already decided where you stand. I urge you to reconsider if you are not going to vote. Please have an open mind if you are not registered, and check out these reasons why you should be voting.
1. It connects you to the rest of the world.
Every time you vote you are contributing your ideas, along with millions of others, to the country. Over time your group of people will be noticed and politics will change what is talked about in order to address what matters to you. This is a rare opportunity to connect to everyone else in ideals and spirit, even if your political views are different.
2. Allows you to complain without being a hypocrite.
If you vote, you are no longer in the realm of complainers and now in the realm of doers. That is a powerful thing to be. It feels good to contribute to politics even in your own small way, and once you've voted, you can share your politics with whomever you please.
3. Politics will represent you.
I know this seems wrong now, but imagine if every single person in the U.S. started voting. Politics and, more importantly, politicians would change drastically. Even if politics does not represent every single one of your values and standpoints, it will at least come closer to being what you want. You don't even need to do research if you don't want to (although it is advised). Just as long as you vote.
4. It is the right thing to do.
There is an obvious ethical value to voting. You may not want to improve the world at all, but if you are like most humans, you do. That is why voting is so beautiful. It is not difficult to do and gratifies that part of you that wants to do something about this world but does not know how to start.
Please, if you are not registered already, click this link if you live in Oregon, and if not, just Google how to register for your state.
