I’m here to tell you that, yes, in the end, your vote doesn’t amount to much. Statistically speaking, your one vote does not affect public policy. It will not change the world. Considering the margin of error in the tallying methods, there is a chance that your vote may not even be counted. For every carefully researched issue that is on the ballot that you spent hours poring over before going to the polls, there are 50 people who simply check some box at random based on how it sounds on the ballot. Can you tell I’m a cynic?
But you should still vote.
The results don’t matter. I think that in this age when doing-something-to-get-something is the only good reason to do anything, it is imperative to just do it because it’s the right thing to do. By voting you are saying that regardless of the result, you are trying to do your part. And I think that speaks more to your character than even who you wind up voting for. I would respect much more the person who voted every vote contrary to me than someone who lines up with me verbatim politically but didn’t bother to take 20 minutes out of his or her day to act upon. So go out and make a difference today… not necessarily on the election results but rather in your own attitude.
By the way, remember that lottery incentive for voting measure that they brought up in Arizona that I absolutely abhor? It’s coming up for a vote today. I think it’s funny that it will be the people who don’t necessarily need the lottery incentive to vote who will be voting on it.
i concur, nathon. as a jaded/cynical poli-sci major, i have very little faith or trust in any of the candidates/political parties. but i know that without voting, the credibility of my views and opinions is shot. in other words, voting is the LEAST that one could do. the first thing that any person (aware or otherwise) will ask in questioning your political beliefs is, “well, do you vote???”