Even though Matt Damon may not approve, I chose not to vote on Tuesday.
“Rock the vote!” all my friends kept telling me. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote for someone. The problem is that there wasn’t a candidate for whom I felt comfortable voting, even after months of research. I eventually began toying with the idea of voting for the “lesser of the two evils,” because apparently I had to vote for someone. The more I thought about it, the more I realized my vote essentially was an endorsement of that candidate’s policies. By voting, I would be agreeing to the rules of the system and agreeing to let the lesser of the two evils dictate policy and make decisions for me.
Is it really always our obligation as citizens to vote? What if you disagree with the Electoral College system? What if you feel all the candidates are out of touch with your viewpoints? Voting legitimizes the system, the candidates and their policies.
I eventually came to the conclusion that none of the choices I was given, in my opinion, were worthy of my endorsement. What’s to stop candidates from getting more and more out of touch with my viewpoints if every time I just vote for the best candidate out of the ones I’m given even though I disagree with them?
Instead of choosing the lesser of the two evils, I’d rather choose none of the above. I refuse to endorse a candidate with whom I disagree. I’ll work hard and do well under any president. I’d rather have piece of mind knowing I stood up for what I believe in. How is that not American? I decided to reject the choices I was given Tuesday, and by doing so, I voiced my true opinion about the direction of this country by voluntarily and enthusiastically rocking the nonvote.
Arthur Manoli
microbiology and premedical junior
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