Should I Vote?

I started voting in 1978. As a young adult, voting was one of the most important responsibilities I felt I needed to take on. To me, it was one of my first opportunities to participate in this country as an adult and take seriously the responsibilities that come with being a U.S. citizen.

The first thing I did was look at the different political parties. I wanted to understand what they believed, what they stood for, and how their elected officials actually voted. Based on that, I made a decision about which party most closely represented my beliefs. Throughout the years, I have continued to look at those positions because parties, politicians, and issues can change.

For me, there is something even more important than a political party. I try to vote the way I believe God would want me to vote, using the Bible as my guide. I look at a candidate's positions and voting record and compare those things with my biblical beliefs. My faith and core values are more important to me than a party name.

Freedom Comes With a Responsibility

I was raised in a country where I had the opportunity to live in freedom, and I believe there is a cost and a responsibility that come with that freedom.

There were costs that others paid that I did not have to pay myself. I did not have to go to war to defend this country. Others did. Growing up, we were taught both the good and the bad about our country. We weren't taught that America was perfect, but we understood that the freedoms we enjoyed were worth protecting.

I also grew up at a time when communism was viewed as a very real threat to those freedoms. Today, I see political ideas gaining support that concern me because I believe some of them could eventually lead us away from freedoms that people of my generation grew up taking for granted.

Vote Your Core Beliefs

One thing that concerns me today is how easily political decisions can become based on popularity, personality, appearances, social media, or simply what everyone else says is good.

None of those things should determine something as important as your vote.

I believe our morals and our core beliefs should guide the decisions we make at the ballot box. For me personally, those beliefs are biblically based. Someone else has to decide what principles guide his or her own vote, but I believe every voter should take the responsibility seriously enough to know what the candidates actually stand for.

Don't simply listen to what politicians say during an election. Look at what they have done and how they have voted.

What If I Don't Like Either Candidate?

Sometimes the person you really want isn't in the race.

That doesn't mean you should stay home.

There may be times when you don't believe either candidate represents everything you believe. In that situation, I believe you still have a responsibility to study your choices and vote for the candidate who most closely represents the principles and direction you believe are right.

I don't believe sitting at home because the choices aren't perfect is the answer. Voting is one of the ways we participate in the future of our country.

Protecting the Integrity of Our Elections

I also believe voting should be reserved for U.S. citizens who are legally eligible to vote, and I have no problem with requiring identification to verify that eligibility and help ensure that each eligible voter casts only one ballot.

Regardless of political party, Americans should want elections in which eligible citizens can vote and have confidence that their votes are properly counted.

I'm Thinking About the Generations After Me

At this point in my life, my concern isn't only about what kind of country I will live in.

I'm thinking about my children and their children.

I don't want this country to become something less than what previous generations worked, sacrificed, and sometimes died to preserve. Freedom can be passed from one generation to another, but every generation has a responsibility to protect it.

We only have a short time on this planet. Make the very most of it.

And when election day comes, learn about the candidates, know what you believe, understand what you're voting for, and exercise the freedom generations before us worked so hard to preserve.

Vote.