Don't vote? Here's why you should (and how to do it properly)
- Jimmy Ellegate
- Nov 8, 2019
- 3 min read
I still have not registered to vote.
I know.
I'm sorry.
To this day the only experience I have ever had voting was writing the name of a close friend on a scrap sheet of paper for student body elections in high school. The closest I've ever gotten to casting a vote for a governmental official was when I was young and went with my mother to vote. I remember going to our local fire hall, standing inside a voting booth, and asking her a million questions about who the people were and why she was voting for them - I'm not sure where that energy went.
My voting experience from high school came in handy during my very first day at UB when I voted for student government officials. I remember walking into the voting booth and randomly selecting from a number of different candidates I had never heard of. I think this is really what has discouraged me from voting to this day - I want to make an educated vote, but have not made learning about candidates a priority. Among school and work, I feared (and still do) that I would not have the time.
In all honesty, I believed this was justifiable. I thought that randomly voting for candidates was arguably worse than not voting at all. That all changed when I enrolled in this class and had a voter's registration packet slammed on my desk.
Although I have yet to actually fill that packet out, it did get me thinking. When I went home that weekend I had a long conversation with my mother about voting and she brought up a point that weighed heavy on my conscious. She explained to me how the men and women in the armed forces are fighting for democracy and are the reason why we have the privilege to vote for our leaders. They are laying down their lives so I can have this opportunity, and by not taking it I am, in a way, disrespecting them. Being an Eagle Scout, this is definitely not something I want to do.
With the motivation to vote now instilled in me, I have been thinking a lot about how to find information on candidates. Finding credible sources of information in today's day proves to be a difficult task, so I've done some research on how to navigate it. While looking for information, I'll be sure to pay close attention to three things: cross-checking information from multiple news sources, reading articles from the perspective of both ends of the political spectrum, and investigating ALL candidates, not just the big names that are featured on the news. I believe that these three things will help me navigate political campaigns and ensure that I am getting the most accurate information.
Social media has been a significant resource for political campaigns, and many candidates, news sources, and influential journalists use these platforms to provide information and report their opinions. Although this may seem like a very efficient way to get information, it may not be as great as we think it is. For starters, social media is ridden with fake accounts with the sole purpose of swaying your opinion one way or the other by producing fake or false content. Even credible social media accounts can sometimes produce false content. For this reason, it is EXTREMELY important to cross check information with credible sources.
Another flaw of obtaining information through social media is that it is biased. Depending on who you follow, you will receive posts revolved around that person’s political opinion. For this reason, it is very important to follow different people from multiple different political groups. In addition, social media does not give you an entire picture of the campaigns. Crucial aspects of a candidate's platform may be completely missed, or even entire candidates may be missing. Social media has a narrow focus because its sole purpose is to produce brief and entertaining content - a filter that often leaves behind important information. Because of this, I'll be sure to check out all candidates, including those not associated with major parties, and make sure I go to their official website for details of their platform.
I am extremely new to the world of politics and voting, so I am very grateful to be taking a class that is motivating me to think more about these topics. I am sure that the information I have acquired will be extremely useful as I begin my voting journey. For anyone else reading this that is over 18 and has not yet registered to vote - remember that it is the least we can do for those laying down their lives to protect our democracy.
Works Cited/Consulted
Jimmy! I can't EVEN with your posts... so good! Fantastic use of rhetoric, formatting, and voice. It's also really cool to hear about the convo you had with your mom from getting a registration form (hey now... was it really "slammed??"). I think your points are all spot-on, and super refreshing.
One resource I often turn to for info about candidates (though it could use some love - they often don't get responses from the candidates, and only ask so many questions) is https://www.vote411.org/. It is a nonpartisan resource that you can use to find out about the candidates you will be voting on, based on your address. They sometimes miss a couple of elections (i.e. local elections for judges,…