10. What is expected of a responsible voter today?

Voting is vital to maintaining and defending a democracy, therefore, it is essential that we vote. I write this short note to share with anyone who may be interested, the dangers that currently face those of us who want our vote to be both educated and free; that is, that our decision is adequately informed and independent of any group pressure, as well as in line with our personal values.

 Considering what I observe in different countries, we live in a time of political extremism. In addition, the information that reaches us via the Internet, whether written or on video, as well as on television, is riddled with exaggerations, inaccuracies and lies, particularly in politics. Clearly, this does not make our job easier when voting.

Now, what is required for our vote to truly represent our preference? In my opinion, there are two key points.

First, obtain reliable information about what each candidate and his party propose, that is, his political platform. In this sense, traditional newspapers such as the Washington Post, the NY Times, USA Today, among others, provide this information[1]. I also have great confidence in NPR, a national radio station that I listen to regularly. It is advisable to read more than one source of information to eliminate any doubt about the veracity of what we find.

Secondly, we must analyze how trustworthy is the candidate. I assume that, for every voter, the intellectual and moral quality of the candidate gives them confidence as to whether he is going to try to carry out what he proposes, and whether he has the potential to achieve it. Every candidate has a history of their political and professional performance, let’s look at it and remember that human beings do not change overnight.

Clearly a responsible voter must inform himself appropriately and think calmly about his decision. I’m not saying that we don’t listen to leaders we trust, I just remember that, as in every important decision we make, the final responsibility is ours.

I am an independent voter, but I know that, regardless of their political affiliation, most voters are fathers and mothers who want the best for their children and the country. That’s why I remind you and myself of the importance of:

1. Reading carefully the proposals of the two political platforms, marking the points that we favor in each of them to objectively choose the one that best suits us, and
2. Not voting for someone “whom we would not want as our children’s teacher,” that is, someone who is known to be immoral, a liar, or selfish[2].

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[1] https://www.usatoday.com/elections/voter-guide/2024-02-27/candidate

[2] https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/16/politics/fact-check-dale-top-15