| The right to vote is a privilege not to be taken | | | | to present their candidate to all citizens in the |
| lightly. Ask any convicted felon who has lost that | | | | most favorable light. This is done by ads and |
| right. So it irks me tremendously when I hear | | | | political spin-doctors. Despite the hype, it is still the |
| entitled voters stating that they will not vote for | | | | responsibility of each citizen to intelligently evaluate |
| whatever reason. Voting privileges were won for | | | | the candidate and determine his /her suitability for |
| the common citizen with tremendous hardship and | | | | the post. The current habit of voting according to |
| those who have inherited this legacy must | | | | our "party" affiliation rather than our personal |
| exercise it responsibly today. This is a sentiment | | | | conviction has been responsible for all of the |
| that would undoubtedly hold favor with the | | | | political disasters befalling our nation. Bearing in |
| survivors of the suffrage movements of the | | | | mind the awesome power of a vote, every |
| past. To voluntarily refuse to vote in a national | | | | voter ought to vote their conviction. Let's face it, |
| election should indeed be viewed as nothing short | | | | our party leaders can be wrong and often are. |
| of betrayal and desertion of your country in its | | | | Because an individual is selected as the party's |
| time of need. | | | | representative in an election does not always |
| WHAT'S AT STAKE? | | | | mean he is the best person for the job. When, as |
| Refusing to vote is a sure sign that a citizen is | | | | a citizen, you are confronted with the choice of a |
| ignorant of the stakes involved in the elections | | | | bad candidate, isn't your duty to your country |
| process. Democracy is defined as "government of | | | | more valuable than your party loyalty? |
| the people (or Nation) by the people (or citizens) | | | | ABSTENTION IS A VOTE |
| for (on behalf of) the people." In plainspeak that | | | | Whether or not you cast your ballot, a vote is |
| means the officials who run the affairs of the | | | | always recorded in your name. When an election |
| Nation are to be chosen by its citizens to do what | | | | takes place, every citizen is affected by the |
| is in the best interest of the people. An election is | | | | outcome, whether or not they personally |
| the process by which these public officials are | | | | participated. No matter how much you gripe |
| selected by the citizens. Every citizen with the | | | | afterwards, the election results will not be |
| right to vote is required to have a say in the | | | | overturned because you did not cast your |
| process. Your vote is your voice. It allows you to | | | | material ballot. Those who do not physically |
| state your judgment as to the suitability of a | | | | participate in the process are considered as being |
| candidate to handle the affairs of your country! | | | | satisfied with the incumbent administration. |
| As such, you can accept or deny candidates the | | | | Therefore, they are viewed as having voted in |
| posts they are seeking if you believe that they | | | | favor of the current administration. It is only |
| are not suitable for such positions. Remember, | | | | those people wanting to affect the outcome of |
| these individuals are seeking power over your | | | | an election who participate. Non-participants are |
| affairs as well as the affairs of the entire nation. | | | | viewed, not as protesters, but as supporters of |
| Your vote gives them power to make | | | | the current administration. The most effective |
| far-reaching and binding choices for you. Your | | | | way you can express your opinion about your |
| vote gives them the authority to do whatever | | | | nation's governance is through the power of your |
| they deem fit with the resources of your | | | | ballot. Your ballot can stop the wrong person from |
| country. These resources also include the lives | | | | acquiring the reins of government and the purse |
| and personal property of every citizen. | | | | strings of your nation's economy. |
| PARTY CHOICES OR PERSONAL CONVICTIONS? | | | | Your tiny vote is huge enough to prevent the |
| It is imperative that you do not lose sight of the | | | | complete disintegration of your nation and your |
| issues involved in voting. Every country that | | | | way of life. Your vote may be the one needed to |
| favors the "democratic" process uses the "political | | | | break a tie and topple the administration you |
| party" principle. Sometimes, this enables | | | | loathe so much. You can moan, complain and gripe |
| unscrupulous individuals to hijack the government | | | | all you want about the lousy administrative policies |
| of their country. Candidates are presented for | | | | of your current government. Nothing will change |
| electoral positions from within opposing political | | | | until you cast your ballot in the electoral process in |
| groups with differing political positions and | | | | a vote to change the administration. It is only the |
| viewpoints. These viewpoints, or manifestoes, | | | | physical presence of your ballot that can affect |
| represent the policies that will be implemented by | | | | the desired changes in your country's |
| officers of these groups if elected to national | | | | administration. So next time you are mad at your |
| office. It is the responsibility of each political group | | | | government, don't withhold your vote, cast it! |