Read

It's More Important than Ever to Engage in Politics

Published:
December 14, 2023
September 19, 2023
Importance-Of-Voting|Importance-Of-Voting-Square

It seems like just as one election cycle ends, the next is already gearing up. Politics are an ever-present topic with friends and family and at work — it’s hard to escape and it can be very overwhelming.

But even if politics and the upcoming elections have already gotten you down, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to disengage from the voting process.

Your voice and perspective have power when you simply engage in the voting process, but that isn’t as easy as just showing up to your polling place and filling out a ballot. 

The voting process

It starts with educating yourself. 

Make informed decisions about who vote for (or not vote for) by using voter guides and sample ballots to research candidates.

Exercising our right to vote doesn’t mean much if we don’t weigh our options against our values to elect representatives who can employ those values in their work for the common good. 

But before you do that, you should figure out what strengths you want to see in a candidate and what weaknesses you’re hoping to avoid. Then you can begin to research candidate positions. 

It's okay to bring your deepest values to the polling station. Our democracy is founded on the idea that different convictions should compete in the public arena. The separation of church and state, for example, is intended to prevent state-sponsored religion — that doesn’t mean people can’t bring their faith-based values to the political process. So our democracy depends on you speaking up for your values.

All people have inherent dignity. We should not be afraid to vote for candidates who will uphold that dignity. Speaking up for our values in the public arena is a duty of both faith and citizenship.

Go deeper than rhetoric

It’s important to be aware of political rhetoric when analyzing each candidate and their positions. Politicians will often use rhetoric (“the art of persuasion”) in an attempt to get people to vote for them. For instance, a candidate’s speechwriter might look at an audience’s demographic when putting together a speech. This allows them to better appeal to a specific crowd’s wants and needs, but it doesn’t necessarily give you a well-rounded or totally accurate picture of the candidate. 

To overcome this, use trusted and reliable sources when doing research and be an active and diligent listener. Over time, you will be better able to pick up which statements are rhetorically designed to appease the crowd and which are not. 

Registering

With the exception of North Dakota, every state and the District of Columbia require that their residents register to vote. Whether you agree with this aspect of the voting process or not, it’s still vital that you do, in fact, register. 

Not surprisingly, there is a significant portion of eligible voters who do not register. In 2014, the percentage was more than one in five. 

Because voting rules vary by state, you’ll need to look up what it takes to register where you live as soon as possible. A quick and easy way to do this is by visiting USA.Gov’s page on registering

Generally, registering can be done online and takes just a moment of your time.

Still can’t decide?

It seems like there are an increasing number of political races where voters feel as if they must decide between the lesser of two evils. This can often lead to a feeling of despair and many people simply abstain from voting. 

Yet, this isn’t a conclusion one should come to easily. 

Jeremy E. Sherman, Ph.D., points out that it should really be seen as picking the lesser of two “disappointing choices.” When phrased this way, it’s much easier to realize that you still have a choice when it comes to voting — you’re not necessarily damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

In this instance, doing your research is more important, not less. If you use only surface-level information to come to the conclusion that you can’t vote for any candidates, then you’re doing yourself and the rest of the population a disservice. 

Whether you ultimately decide to cast a vote or not, it’s important that you fully go through the process and do all the necessary research. If after doing so, you truly feel that you cannot morally vote for anyone, or that you’d rather write-in an alternative, that’s your right. But don’t let the fact that you haven’t done your research or registered to vote stand in your way.

Creators:
Andrew Mentock
Published:
December 14, 2023
September 19, 2023
On a related note...
Two Truths and a Lie: St. Bibiana

Two Truths and a Lie: St. Bibiana

Grotto

Take Me Home: A Grotto Short Film

Take Me Home: A Grotto Short Film

Grotto

What It Took to Find a Community in a New City

What It Took to Find a Community in a New City

Mary Cunningham

Why We Should Foster Intergenerational Friendships

Why We Should Foster Intergenerational Friendships

Robert Christian

Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability

Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability

Claire Krakowiak

The Compassion Behind Comedy

The Compassion Behind Comedy

Grotto

'Street Nun' Formed a Community Through Canning

'Street Nun' Formed a Community Through Canning

Grotto

17 Ideas for Giving Back This Holiday Season

17 Ideas for Giving Back This Holiday Season

Emily Mae Mentock

Suicide Survivor Gives Back to Support Prevention

Suicide Survivor Gives Back to Support Prevention

Grotto

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Brings Healing

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Brings Healing

Grotto

This Neighborhood Goes All-Out with Christmas Lights for a Good Cause

This Neighborhood Goes All-Out with Christmas Lights for a Good Cause

Grotto

"Theater and Community"

"Theater and Community"

Victoria Rabuse

This Music Teacher Is Changing Lives of At-Risk Youth

This Music Teacher Is Changing Lives of At-Risk Youth

Danielle Thomson

Meet the Nun Fighting to Abolish the Death Penalty

Meet the Nun Fighting to Abolish the Death Penalty

Lisa Greey Lytwyn

Our Favorite Thing About College Football Season

Our Favorite Thing About College Football Season

Grotto Shares

She Sparks Change within Young Women

She Sparks Change within Young Women

Grotto

"Have the Courage to Be Useless"

"Have the Courage to Be Useless"

Christian Santa Maria

Meaningful Work for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Meaningful Work for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Grotto

Hosting a Party for the Big Game? 4 Chili Recipes for Your Playbook

Hosting a Party for the Big Game? 4 Chili Recipes for Your Playbook

Grotto

How Having “Soul Sessions” With My Friends Transformed My Faith

How Having “Soul Sessions” With My Friends Transformed My Faith

Alexandra Bendixen

A reflective narrative by Alexandra Bendixen.

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.