As the 2016 Presidential Election is swiftly approaching, everyone is hesitating over choosing which candidate to vote for. For most, this thought process isn’t being determined through obvious settlements or clear choices; this world-wide selection is one of the hardest because the election is being nationally depicted as choosing “the lesser of two evils.” At this time, the political debate is constantly being thrown in our faces. You see it on the news, on your Facebook homepage as you are scrolling through and you even see it on Twitter. Yes, our two remaining candidates regularly take part in banter against one another through status updates and comments. This may not come off as surprising or ridiculous to some because we are the generation of social media use, but to me, this is absolutely ludicrous.
This Presidential Election is different from past ones. Social media banter and cons that seemingly outweigh the pros are only a few examples. This year, it’s not going to be an easy decision when the polls open up for anyone determined and eligible to make a vote. Now, I’m not going to lie, I find myself thinking about who I want to vote for and the phrase “the lesser of two evils” is what always pops up in my head. But now, I’m realizing that this is not a logical nor appropriate way to make a decision that will affect the country entirely.
As children, we aren’t properly taught how the government works or how to answer simple questions that have to do with politics and situations such as presidential debates. A few things we do learn at a young age though is leadership and basic human rights. Deciding not to vote this upcoming election does not make me an apathetic underachiever; however, it signifies that I value this country and the fact that it deserves to have a president that will demonstrate leadership and appreciation for the people he or she is leading -- and that’s all of us. Deciding not to vote this upcoming election is my way of showing that even though we all have the right to vote, we also have the right not to vote. And I refuse to choose a candidate simply because it’s expected of me.
Think about this. If you imagine yourself approaching the polls with even a slightly unsure decision, it’s okay not to vote. If everyone around you is discussing the pros and cons surrounding the two remaining candidates and you find yourself growing confused or unlikely to give a well-educated opinion, it’s okay not to vote. If you are one of the many people in this country simply voting for “the lesser of two evils,” it’s okay not to vote. You shouldn’t have to feel obligated to vote for a candidate you don’t even support. If you think you want to support Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton simply because he doesn’t have as many faults then you aren’t voting for the right reasons. When we vote as citizens, it should be because we believe the candidate will do this country justice. And we all know this country needs it. When we vote, we are implying that we believe in their guidance that they are promising us. So, if you’re voting for “the lesser of two evils” you aren’t voting for yourself or for this country, you’re voting because you feel as though it is an obligation -- and it’s not. Our future politicians won’t change for the better if they get the idea that we will vote for them even when we don’t entirely support them. It’s okay not to vote.
