This current presidential race is shaping up to be one of the most controversial and negatively perceived campaigns in American history, with both candidates from the two major parties instilling less than stellar impressions on a majority of voters. There are many people I know who don’t like either of the two major candidates and who consider themselves both “Anti-Trump” and “Anti-Hillary.” I know people who identify as conservative and don’t like Trump, and some who identify as liberal who don’t entirely trust Clinton. Personally, I’m not wild about the two candidates either; but nonetheless, come election time, you and I will have to cast our vote for who we want to be the Commander in Chief for the next four years. In politics, there are many different reasons for supporting a candidate, but the one reason that really frustrates me, however, is when people support voting for Hillary Clinton because “at least she’s not Donald Trump.” Now, I’m not a supporter of Trump by any means and there is no chance he will be receiving my vote this coming November, but choosing to vote for Hillary simply because she isn’t Trump is not a good reason to be voting for her and is an irresponsible use of your right to vote (the same thing goes for opposite as well; don’t vote for Trump just because she isn’t Hillary).
The right to vote is one that so many natural born citizens take for granted, sometimes to the extent that they don’t feel the need to vote at all. As someone who came to this country as an immigrant, the best thing about finally getting my citizenship was being allowed to vote in political elections. Having the right to vote is just that, a right, and it is something that should be used in an intellectual and responsible manner. Voting for a candidate simply because you don’t perceive them as being as bad as the opposition is not using your right to vote responsibly; it’s a cop-out. You should be voting for a candidate because you have watched debates, speeches, or done research about their qualifications and platforms. If you blindly say you will vote for Hillary on the grounds that she isn’t Trump, without taking the time to look at her policies, you could end up unhappy with the presidential term she may lead. In an election as important as this one is shaping out to be, America needs responsible citizens, not citizens who are going to exercise their right to vote based on lackluster reasoning. Do the research, look at the policies, and weigh the pros and cons of each option.
While a third party candidate has never won a presidential election before, there are always more voting options than simply the nominees from the Republican and Democratic parties. If you find yourself to be both “Anti-Trump and Anti-Hillary” then take a look at other options out there. Gary Johnson, a Libertarian, is a former two-term governor of New Mexico who is polling at relatively high numbers for a third party candidate and has the potential to completely change the landscape of this election. If you are frustrated and unable to support either Clinton or Trump, then take a look at the policies and platforms of Gary Johnson and his running mate, Bill Weld, to see if they might serve as a viable alternative. People will make the argument that it’s useless to vote for a third party candidate because they won’t win, but if all the people who don’t like Trump or Clinton decide to support Johnson, then he stands a chance at being elected to the Oval Office.
Justifying your vote with the claim that Hillary is worthy of the position solely on the grounds that she isn’t Donald Trump is ludicrous. As someone who wasn’t guaranteed the right to vote by birth, it frustrates me to see citizens exercise their right in such negligence. If you aren’t going to treat your right to vote with respect and vote with integrity, then maybe you shouldn’t be allowed to vote at all. I firmly believe in democracy and that everyone’s vote should count and be equal to everyone else’s, but that’s under the assumption that we take the time to make an informed decision on who we think would be the best option for the job. If, after doing so, you decide Clinton is still the best option for you, then that’s great. Go ahead and vote for her. In doing so you’ll know why are you voting and will be an informed and valuable citizen to the American political landscape. I’m still weighing up my options, and in the end, my vote might go Clinton’s way, but there’s a good chance I might be checking the box next to Gary Johnson after doing some more research on both individuals. I hope everyone else will take the time to view all the options as well in order to generate a proper, informed opinion.
