Time and time again the political conversation is avoided for many reasons that may include wanting to avoid disputes and arguments with peers, for lack of the necessary information to form a sound opinion, or even from the belief that just one opinion and one vote won’t make a difference.
Whatever the reason may be, there is no better time than the present to take command of the future we envision. The torch is being passed to younger, growing generations to become the stewards and protectors of the American Dream.
In presidential elections the winner is decided based on the electoral college, the electors awarded to each state equal to its number of congressional delegates. In Florida there are 29 votes that go towards the electoral college for our 27 House Representatives and 2 Senate seats.
Even though the election is not determined by popular vote, National Geographic says, “if your vote joins enough others in your voting district or county, your vote undoubtedly matters when it comes to electoral results.”
In local and midterm elections, there is typically a much lower turnout of voters than in major presidential elections. Every two years, voters can vote on one-third of the senators and on every member of the house of representatives to determine who represents their interests on a federal level.
Local elections directly impact the day-to-day lives of community members, how tax-funds are allocated, schools, road up-keep, public services and more.
Our vote is how we decide who best represents our interests and what we want to see in our communities.
It is the American people’s civic duty not only to make these well-informed decisions, but also to actively follow the actions and policies enacted by these officials so that they may be held accountable for delivering on their promises.
There are various ways to get informed and stay informed, through broadcast media like MSNBC, CNN, and others; or print media like The Washington Post, New York Times, or other local newspapers. In the ever-evolving technology-based society we live in, social media has become a popular way to obtain information as well.
For balanced and unbiased news assessments, many have recommended AllSides for their aim to share news stories from the various biased news networks to combat the negative effects of media bias and misinformation.
The Student Government Association is launching a project to empower voters to assess their own political awareness and encourage them to seek out the most accurate political information to form well-informed opinions.
The political conversation should be a constructive exchange of views and ideas, not something to shy away from that will only spur conflict. Having well-researched opinions on issues not only enables us to discuss what is happening in the world around us now but empowers us to take charge of the world we will live in.