Voting has been a hot topic of debate, even more so in the current day than ever. However, not everybody does it, especially the youth. According to CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), “close to half of young people (47%) ages 18 to 29 cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election,” which is significantly low. But, is this for the best or the worst?
Not voting could do a significant amount of harm. For one, voting is a system that is considered a civic duty and was put in place to ensure that the candidate who gets in power may have people’s best interests in mind and that everything they do is constitutional and in favor of the people. When people don’t turn out to vote, candidates who do not have the well-being of the people in mind may end up in the presidency. There is also the added benefit of voting for a candidate with the same beliefs and values. It’s a good way for the youth to influence democracy and society.
However, there is justification for not voting as well. Voting is a constitutional right, not a duty, which allows for the option of not voting as well. If there isn’t a single candidate who satisfies a voter, then not voting at all is an option, as voting despite lacking a favored candidate is inherently voting for someone they wouldn’t want in office. If someone who didn’t want to vote was forced to, they would be voting out of necessity rather than out of their own belief and would likely result in a vote being placed for a candidate they don’t truly believe in.
