Home > From Voter Apathy to Voter Activism!
Those who can’t be bothered to go out and vote on election day or think their vote won’t make a difference not only miss the point but also miss a prime opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction. In the Western world, we preach and proselytize the gospel of democracy and even try to force it on other countries (whether they like it or not), providing expertise and money to set up a framework for democratic elections. Over history, people across the world have died (or put their lives in danger) in order to win the right to vote because they believed in the promises held out by democratic elections. The United States was founded upon the ideals of freedom from a colonial oppressor and the ability to exercise one’s democratic right to vote for self-determination of taxes and policies affecting Americans. Sadly, these days, the only thing that stimulates the masses to vote in the United States is their favorite dance star or pop idol! It’s a pattern that has been replicated across the globe. While votes cast for reality-TV show candidates continue to skyrocket, voter turnouts in real elections to select those who will determine the policies that truly impact our lives have been in dismal decline. Apathy and laziness are no excuses for not exercising your democratic right. Whether you find elections ’boring,’ you think none of the candidates represent your views, or you feel that all candidates are basically the same and your vote will not make a difference, there is something you can do to register your protest: You can spoil your ballot! This is both fun and easy to accomplish... All you have to do draw a large ’X’ on your ballot. Or, if you’re gifted with the ability to draw or otherwise artistically-inclined, you can make the returning officer smile with a well crafted cartoon covering the ballot or bring some cutouts and a stick of glue with you into the voting booth and create a beautiful collage on your ballot — the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity, so by all means, be creative! Regardless of whether it’s a city, state, or federal level election, if you think your vote won’t matter, it’s up to you to be innovative and exercise your democratic right to vote while voicing your disenchantment with the candidates or the system!