Imagine driving to the polls to vote on election day. The last week has been busy with events and people, and today you’ve only managed to make time to run to the polls because you know, deep down, it’s your civic duty to vote. You pass by several yard signs boldly displaying a candidate’s name, with bright red, white, and blue themes painting the background. They remind you that you don’t really know who’s running. You haven’t made the effort to research many of the candidates running, if any. Besides, it’s a local election, so does it really matter?
A few minutes later, you pull into your polling place, park, and walk inside. A few moments later, and your ballot is laid out in front of you. You glance down the list of unfamiliar names. Maybe you recognize someone you know. County Treasurer? What does that even entail? You have no idea what some of these positions even involve. Finally! A name you recognize. It was on one of the yard signs you drove past that morning. Well, at least there were patriotic colors on their sign. They can’t be that bad. A few more names, and ta-da! You’ve voted.
As you leave the polling place to your car, a startling thought pops into your head. Did you actually do your civic duty, or did your lack of knowledge about the candidates put someone incompetent in office?
The Need for Informed Voting
If this scenario sounds like something you’ve done before, the goal is not to make you feel like a bad citizen. However, this scenario should also make you consider the consequences of being an uninformed voter. Because, yes, there are serious consequences—either good or bad—when we vote for a candidate.
First, let’s debunk three common myths about voting.
#1 Local Elections Aren’t Important
This is not true! Local leaders make important decisions about how things are run. They help decide on everything from budget to road construction to fostering business growth. Freedom is also often best instituted and protected at the local level, not from the top down.
#2 Every Republican Candidate is a True Republican
Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. That’s why you have to research for primary elections. You want to pick a candidate who will actually represent your values and stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
#3 The General Election in November is More Important than Primaries
False! The primaries are an opportunity for voters to choose the best possible candidate from their political party to go up against whoever the opposing party selects as their candidate. You want to be involved in the primaries, otherwise your party might lose in the general election entirely. Primaries are essential to choosing good leaders who will represent you and your community well.
How To Be An Informed Voter
If you’re trying to be an informed voter for this next election cycle, there are lots of resources to help you find out about candidates and learn more about them.
Here are just a few resources to get you started:
- iVoterGuide is fighting the good fight by equipping everyday Americans with the tools they need to vote wisely. They provide recommendations on who to vote for and who is on the ballot.
- Most candidates participate in candidate forums in the months leading up to the primary election. These are usually advertised on local Republican Facebook groups or on posters around the community. This is an incredible opportunity to hear from the candidates themselves on the issues they think are important and what they hope to accomplish while in office.
- When researching candidates, look at their stance on life and education. This will tell you a lot about their values. There is a good chance that if they don’t value life in the womb, they won’t value your life. And if they don’t value your life, they won’t value anything else you have.
- Vote in the primaries! Make sure you know where your polling place is. This information can be found on local government websites.
Emma Sager works as the Marketing Specialist at Patriot Academy. She graduated from Cedarville University with a degree in Communication. In a world that spends seconds on content before being caught up in the next new thing, she enjoys tackling the challenge of creatively telling stories that capture the reader’s attention and leave them pondering what they read or saw. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, art, playing violin, and spending time outdoors and with friends.
