Don't Know? Don't Vote!

America has the lowest voter turnout of the industrial world. (IDEA) That being said, I would not advocate that we try to get everyone out to vote at all costs. Unfortunately we seem to have a culture of apathy towards politics and social issues in our country among the general populace. Fortunately however, the people who are apathetic and therefore not versed in current events, politics, and domestic policy are the ones that do not turn out to vote. I say that if a person is ignorant of the issues and candidates they should not vote because it corrupts the integrity of the election. The only people that should vote are those with knowledge of these things. They are the ones who stand to gain or lose the most by the election and are clearly the ones that care more about what happens.

I feel that our nation is still liberal if a majority of the people do not vote. If the others did in an uneducated fashion a person could get elected by passions alone or by chance. In regards to the former, it is very dangerous and could lead to emotions overruling logic. Dangerous leaders have been elected in this way in the past. With the latter, it is not a fair representation of the will of the people. Those who are uninformed are not really active citizens. Active citizens are informed of the issues and make calculated and thought out decisions on who to vote for based upon a set criteria. The uninformed voter can't possibly do this, ruining the legitimacy of the election.

In a matter so important as choosing the next leader of the free world, it should not be left up to chance and passions of uninformed voters. It is unfortunate that the majority of people in our country fall into this category. Rather than forcing them to vote, it is actually our civic duty to try and educate these people of the issues and if they still choose to be ignorant, then so be it. It is their choice. In the end, it is better if a person who has no concept of the politics of the time not vote, rather than do so uninformed. Leaders should be not be picked in a random and emotional fashion, but through an educated and well thought out process of decision-making.

Sources: http://www.idea.net.int/