Grant Baldwin’s Blog

In honor of the election tomorrow, I thought I would post a few thoughts about voting. In fact, in my new book Reality Check, there is a chapter about voting. So I’m going to share chapter 34 in its entirety for FREE…just cause I’m a nice guy! Enjoy…

Should I vote? Who should I vote for?

Voting on issues and for political leaders is not only one of your rights but also one of your responsibilities as an American. Many students have legitimate questions about voting that we will address:

• Why? – One of the biggest concerns that students have about the voting process is if their vote even matters. “Does it really make a difference whether or not I vote?” we often ask. But if every person had that mindset and no one voted, then the democratic system that we have no longer works. Your vote will be counted, so why wouldn’t you want to have your say in the process? Many countries around the world don’t have a democratic system. Their governmental leaders and officials are decided for them regardless of viewpoints and belief systems. But by voting, you have the opportunity to let your voice be heard. If you are not happy with the elected officials that are in place, you have as much power as anybody else to do something about it. But if you are not happy with the way things are and you did not vote, then you don’t have any reason to say anything.

• Who? – The next challenge is figuring out who to vote for. In politics, there are two major voting parties you have probably heard about: Republicans and Democrats. Republicans tend to be more conservative on political issues, while Democrats tend to be more liberal. Each of the individuals who make up these political parties has a general set of beliefs and values that they tend to lean towards. In addition, there are some officials who do not associate themselves with either party and are known as Independents. In an election, your responsibility is to figure out, not only who you think would do the best job in that elected role, but also which candidate most closely reflects your beliefs and opinions. If you’re going to vote for someone, wouldn’t you prefer to vote for someone who closely mirrors how you think?

• When? – There are many different types of elections on many different levels. There are local, city, county, state, and national elections. Some elections are an opportunity to vote for a candidate for a certain political position, and other elections are for you to vote on specific issues in the area such as a tax increase for a community development project. Elections can happen throughout the year, but most major elections happen in November. The Presidential election happens in November every four years.

• Where? – Before you can vote anywhere, you have to meet two simple qualifications: 1) You must be at least 18 years old, and 2) you must register to vote. To register to vote, contact your local city or town hall to see what the process is. You may need to go to the city hall to fill out a form, sometimes they can mail you the form, and some areas are going to an online voter registration system. Regardless, in most states you are required to register at least 30 days prior to an election. After you have completed that process you will receive a voter registration card that will show you where you will actually cast your vote. It is normally a community location such as a school or church that is close to where you live.

Every year there is a growing interest in the election process among young people. Candidates, especially in the Presidential elections, are targeting young voters because they make up such a large voting demographic. In addition, more and more young people are getting involved with political campaigns in order to attract more voters for their chosen candidate. This is a great way to get involved with the political process and to encourage others to get involved as well.

Let me provide one additional thought on the issue of voting. While you have the responsibility to vote and help select our nation’s governing officials, it’s important to remember that no one you elect is going to change your life. So often we look to the President or Congress or the government in general to take care of us and solve our problems. And while part of their responsibility is to protect you as an American citizen, very little that they actually do in Washington D.C. will have a direct impact on your day to day life.

Too many people count on the government to fix their lives when in reality; you must learn to take personal responsibility for your own decisions and the outcomes. While some elected officials are certainly better than others in bringing about change, the only person that can truly change your life is you.