As we mature, there are certain milestones that lead to specific “rites of passage”. Of course, we have age 16 where youth can receive their driver’s license, and 21 allows for adults the autonomy to purchase alcohol and tobacco products. However, one that specifically pertains to nearly all of the young adults on campus is the American right– nay, duty, that is received once we turn 18: the ability to vote. Yes, it has been told to us in the education system how it is our “civic duty” to practice this right, and how it shapes the futures of not only us but the generations to come… but it’s uncomfortable when the opportunity to vote for the leader of our country will be opening in less than a month, to almost all of us for the first time. I am personally in a fascinating category of college student that has already participated in a presidential election. Call it luck or call it a curse, I have experience under my belt (albeit, minimal) in choosing political candidates to put in office.
Although my first time voting went fine, I know there was a lot of research I had slip through the cracks when making my decision. Simply asking, “who should I vote for?” is not enough; there are variables that are necessary to dig through to make the best informed decision, because as the incoming generation OUR VOTE DOES MATTER. As a slightly experienced national election participant, here is some advice on what I wish I weighed when making the best informed vote.
There are certain camps people have taken in the past to make their decision. Constitutionalist voters weigh the candidates’ policies in tandem with the rights Americans hold within– you guessed it– the Constitution. Others, like the Intellectuals, try to determine the type of Chief Justice a candidate would bring into the Supreme Court while in office. Because the Justices change policy permanently, it’s important for the people in this camp to vote for a president that will bring in a Justice who aligns with their values. I don’t believe it’s healthy to adhere to one of these methods alone, but they are wonderful slices to consider of the candidate pie.
But what about the knitty gritty, the juicy policy? I’m glad you’re eager to know what I think, so take a deep breath because I’m getting there. I’m sure it’s been said too many times, but it still rings true: don’t vote on party. Vote on policy. The main policies I think should be focused on are economic, immigration, and human rights.
In economic policy, it’s important to see each candidate’s stance on areas such as imports, exports, taxation, wages, and stock exchange. How does the candidate want to address the separation of the middle class? What are their goals with taxing the American people, and how is that going to affect our infrastructure, education funding, or stock market interaction? Given the current stress of inflation, considering the candidates’ goals for the economy is necessary in making the most informed decision to protect us from financial difficulty toward monetary stability.
As for immigration policy, there is a balance to weigh. As Christians, Jesus tells us to love your neighbor as yourself. This means we need to make sure we vote for someone that makes decisions loving our immigrant neighbor. This also means making decisions that love our citizen neighbor. What policies are going to allow others to enter our country to create a better life? What policies are going to protect our borders from crime such as drug trade and sex trafficking? Which candidate is going to hold these most in tandem with each other? Again, it’s a balance to weigh but necessary to the function and flourishing of our country.
Finally, human rights policies are what people usually look to when voting for president and other elected offices. It covers many hot-button issues such as diversity and inclusion, abortion, child labor, freedom of speech, wages, general workplace rights, and much more. Although these are hot topics in politics that can strike a lot of strong emotions about candidates, it’s important to note that this is not the whole of everything to weigh. Like I said earlier, these are also all slices to consider in the candidate pie.
Before I leave you to consider your civic duty, there is one final remark to note when voting for president: we are not voting for the candidate we see as the nicest person. Although that would be nice, it should go back to who we see as the best advocate of our rights, the strongest ambassador to other countries, and servant to the American people. With that, do your research and participate in your civic duty.
