Tuesday marks a monumental day in our history. Our nation will decide who they want to lead the good march into the future. We here at the Alligator encourage each and every one of you, Democrat, Republican, Independent and Libertarian alike, to please go out to the polls tomorrow and cast your votes.
As Floridians especially, we have a solemn obligation to vote. In states like Texas, California and New York, the voters are already decided on what color their state will vote tomorrow. We here in Florida have an unusual responsibility. Like Ohio, our state has no consistent political leaning. Moreover, given how many electoral votes we carry, we have a large influence over who will become the next president of the U.S. Given this, every single one of you reading this ought to get out and vote tomorrow if you haven’t already. Each and every vote counts in this election, and if you stay home tomorrow, you’ll take a vital vote away from the candidate you otherwise support. When entire groups of people have this mindset, it literally changes the course of elections.
We know it can be disheartening to vote. Sometimes, people feel like by voting they are contributing to a system of corrupt politics. If you are frustrated with insider control — the influence of money and the political and business elite — by not voting, you’re accepting that the status quo is acceptable. Ironically, choosing not to vote cedes more power to those you oppose than voting. We have the privilege of living in a democratic nation with free elections, and when you choose to not vote, you choose to not take responsibility for that democracy.
In 2008, four out of every 10 eligible Americans chose to stay home on Election Day. Literally 40 percent of our country either forgot about the election or actively decided to not partake in it. Given the coverage our media has on election years, it’s doubtful people simply forgot. Democracy works best when more people engage in the process, not fewer.
Even if the presidential race frustrates you as much as it does us, there are other things on the ballot. Nationally, we are deciding on who will speak on our behalf in the Senate and House of Representatives. In Florida, we are deciding who will occupy state senator seats, state representative seats and four amendment referenda that could change Florida’s approach to solar electricity, medical marijuana and tax exemptions for disabled first-responders and low-income senior citizens. Locally, we in Gainesville will have to elect a new sheriff. It’s been argued that local political forces have more influence on your daily life than national political forces. So if the national election really turns you off from the voting process, at least think about how your life could change as a resident of Gainesville.
As George Jean Nathan once said, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” This quote could not be more true for this election. This is perhaps the most polarizing election in our collective memory as a nation. Never before have we seen such radical positions, such passionate defenses and such bold claims made by our politicians. The best way to promote those who can do good for authority is to vote for them, and the only way you can stop those who can do bad is to vote against them.
A voter reads his ballot at the Hamilton County Board of Elections as early voting begins statewide, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, in Cincinnati.
