Voting

During tonight's class the relevant topic of voting was discussed and this question was asked: if you are not informed about the elections, should you vote? And here is my opinion. Registered Americans over the age of 18 have the right and the responsibility to vote in the election. You should vote not only because it is your responsibility but because by not voting, you are saying that you do not care if you have this right. There are so many people fighting and sacrificing their lives for the chance to chose their government. In my previous post, I talked about how one of Judy Meisel's messages was to vote, to exercise your right to chose your government. By not voting, by not exercising your civic right, it is my opinion that you lose your right to complain. If you do not like something that the government is doing, and you did not vote, too bad. You had your chance to choose the official you wanted to govern you and you ignored that chance. 

I think because so many Americans take their right to vote for granted that at this moment in time it is more important to have people registered to vote than to worry about educating them about making an informed vote. Before we can increase the number of educated votes and make people actually think about voting, we have to get them to vote in the first place. If they are not even registered, why would someone take the time to go and learn about the different candidates? I think it is the role of the parties, or even a non-partisan organization to provide information on the candidates positions on important topics so that voters can make important decisions. Before we can provide that information to the voters though, they have to be registered to be voters. 

So, yes I think you should vote, even if you are not informed, because it is your civic right and responsibility. Granted, it would be much better if you were an informed voter, but the excuse of I don't know should not prevent you from exercising your right and responsibility.