Everyone Has an Obligation to Vote Essay -- Politics Political Essays

Why should I vote? This is a simple question with a long history of debate. My vote doesn't make a difference anyway. I'm too busy. They're all crooks, why should I vote for one of them? There isn't a good choice. Nothing will change. The problem with these reasons is that they actually perpetuate the circumstances keeping would-be-voters away from the polls. Many arguments exist for both sides of the issue, however, I believe more reasons to vote exist than lame excuses. My vote is too insignificant to make a difference anyway. No one's vote "makes no difference," though the difference may be small in comparison to the whole, it is there nonetheless. Through not voting, one is only guaranteeing that one's own opinion will make no difference. If the right isn't exercised, no reason exists for its presence. Countless complaints would arise the instant anyone tried to revoke one's right to vote, therefore, that right must actually be valued. Since that right is valued, then it must be thought to have the power to make a difference, and thus the excuse is invalid. At least put fourth the effort and try to make a difference, no matter how inconsequential every little bit helps. My schedule is too busy; I don't have time to vote. Voting can be done by absentee ballot if one is out of town on Election day. No need to go anywhere or stand in lines, just fill out the ballot and mail it in. Every citizen is eligible to vote by mail if they cannot get to the polls on election day. For some it is often just a matter of convenience. With the absentee ballot, none have an excuse not to vote. It's not hard work, actually it's rather easy, almost too easy. The real reason behind this excuse usually boils down to ... ...o do so. Nonvoters, on the other hand, don't readily see those same benefits, and resist when confronted with them by voters. In conclusion, I feel that everyone has an obligation to vote, a responsibility for the betterment of themselves, their children, their peers and their country. I believe that if more people were educated as to the benefits of voting, voter turnout would dramatically increase, and promote a greater general concern. Only through knowledge will we ever be able to make a difference in the minds of nonvoters to make the choice to act upon their duty to vote. Shortly before he died, James Madison, wrote in a letter to a friend, "A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it is but a tragedy . . . a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."