COLUMN: Voters should consider the ballot before heading to the polls
The question of whether it is a responsibility to vote is the basis of any basic political science class.
The debate hinges on whether it is better for the electorate of this country to be comprised of the greatest numbers possible or a smaller, yet more informed public?
To me, this has never been a question.
I grew up in a household where you voted. There was no question, no apathy, you just voted.
There was no real greater sense of civic duty instilled in me by my dad about voting. It was just one of things you did as an American.
By the time I was ready to cast my first ballot, I could not wait.
I was so excited, I cast my first ever vote for then-Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus in the 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary, a race that Posthumus was running unopposed in, just so I could cast my first ballot and I have voted every time since.
In 2004, I was so excited to cast my vote for President George W. Bush that I chose not to check the straight ticket voting option so I could actually fill in the circle next to the name of Bush.
In my ideal world, everybody is that excited to vote.
But I am a realist and realize that Tuesday is a mid-term election with two candidates for governor who are not that exciting and no major ballot initiatives to drive young voters to the polls.
But for those of you casting your first ballot on Tuesday or you are unsure if you should vote or not, it is time to sit down and really think about what you want your vote to say.
If you have no clue who Rick Snyder or Virg Benero is or think Judy Emmons is who Emmons Hall is named for, maybe this is not the election for you.
Just because you may not know who these people are, they still make decisions that will affect your future, so just do not vote for a candidate because they are a member of the party that your parents are in or because they share a first name with your uncle.
It is time for the youth of this country to start making well informed decisions at the polls and not vote for a candidate just because he’s a charismatic public speaker and his campaign is based on buzz words that have no substantial meaning.
You only get one first vote, please make it count.
