Pushing people to vote — no matter their understanding of the political process or what is at stake — can be both a positive and negative.
Making voices heard is always a good thing, especially when they are part of communities that need more representation. Representation for minority groups is also incredibly important so all people can have a say in what the country, as a whole, wants.
Voting has been pushed immensely through social media and campaigns in the last four years. It seemed that choosing not to vote two years ago was not that big of a deal. But with this last midterm election, if someone decides not to vote now, it seems like they have done a crime or a disservice to this country.
Even though voting is good for ourselves and our communities, we should still not be pressured by our peers if we do not want to and should not blindly vote.
Social media coverage on voting has skyrocketed. Influencers put out sponsored messages about voting and how important it is to vote. Everyone poses for a picture with their stickers and the phrase “please vote.” Not only does social media push voting, but it has become a trend. According to social media etiquette on election day, if you’re not out voting, then you don’t fit in.
Emily Pierce | Argonaut
Coverage on this can be a good thing and can push people to register and let their voices be heard, but there are also cons to shoving the vote in the faces of others.
Now not everyone can vote, but for those who can it is pushed to be important to get out and have your voice heard. However, as of current political history, many people just vote and circle whatever party that they are in. People do not often research who they are voting for — which is why social media plays such a heavy role.
You are not just voting for a party, you are voting for a representative for specific issues and policies. Even if they are in the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, they may have different stances on ideas than you.
This idea can be dangerous, because there can be big changes of policy if you do not research the person that you are voting for and they make changes during their time as a representative.
Research the people you vote for well in advance of voting and keep up on platforms well after voting takes place.
We have this wonderful power in our hands to tell people higher up what we want to do with this country. We have representatives that should be engaging with our wants and ideas. Many countries don’t get these chances, and it’s something we cannot take for granted.
Rather than just telling people to vote, let’s tell people to research, then vote. Let’s get people engaged with their choices long before they hit the polls.
People like influencers on social media with big platforms could get the message out quickly. Vote, but do not be ignorant. Vote for things that you would want to go into effect and change.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected]