How to Participate in Politics
When talking about politics, most people tend to be quite pessimistic as they don’t seem to trust any political party. Although they actually believe that every individual has enough political power, as it should be. When it comes to politics, everyone has a voice that must be heard. Here, we will be discussing how to actively participate in politics.
How to Exhibit Your Voting Rights
It is very important to cast your vote during an election, and there are steps to take that will ensure that your vote counts. As we all know, voting is known to be the most basic form of civic engagement when it comes to democracy, but research has shown that the U.S. has the poorest turnout of voters among developed countries. And one of the reasons is the fact that the act of voting is not always as easy as it seems to be. Since most elections are held during the week, people have to make plans and arrangements for them.
Also, due to the variation in the time of election for most elected offices, a lot of people seem to lose track of time and end up forgetting to go cast their vote. However, there are steps and proactive measures that you can take in order to make your vote matter and have a say in the political affairs of the nation.
1. Learn Your State’s Voting Laws
Being stranded in a city a few days before an election because you don’t know what to do to vote smoothly is not a nice feeling. Dealing with situations in the last days of the elections without the probability of them being resolved in time can be quite infuriating. The Fair Elections Center is there to guide anyone through the state’s voting laws. You can decide to ask around or google it in order to find your way around. Some of the other information available on the website is the dates of upcoming elections, absentee voting, and various others.
2. Make a Voting Plan
Research has shown that individuals who are required to figure out a particular voting plan, such as the time and location they want to vote, are most likely able to cast their vote. So, it is essential that you come up with a plan that suits you. And you can decide to talk to people around you about your voting plans, as this will make you more accountable to yourself.
3. Use Peer Pressure
Discussing the plans made concerning how you want to vote with others can also serve as a way of reminding them to vote. Or you can even go ahead and ask your friends about their voting plans, such as the place and time at which they want to cast their vote. Then you can follow up with them to ensure that they stick to it.
4. Vote Strategically
A better way of adhering to this form of civic engagement is by thinking about it as a way of expressing your beliefs and also as a choice that comes with its own repercussions. In the U.S. electoral system, only two major political parties are favored, so citizens have three major choices regarding voting, which are either to vote Republican, vote Democratic, or do not vote for any of them if you do not want your vote to be wasted.
How to Talk About Politics
When discussing politics, the conversation tends to get heated up quickly as everyone will want their opinion to be heard and accepted. Below are some of the ways in which you can remain respected and can even have the opportunity to change someone.
1. One on One Interaction
As the time for elections keeps drawing nearer, having a discussion about politics is quite inevitable at that point, as a lot of people tend to try and influence the political thoughts of their friends and people around them. A lot of people have had the opportunity to be part of a political discussion on social media or email, and then the conversation just quickly turned nasty. To make your point in a particular discussion, it is better to do that in person than online.
2. Find Common Ground
If you eventually decide to persuade someone close to you to vote in a particular way or manner or to sign a petition, it is advisable to also think through every side, especially the weakness of your argument. You can also consider the good points the other person is able to come up with. By taking other people’s interests into consideration rather than being hostile towards them, you are able to give yourself a better opportunity to influence another person. And you can both eventually come to a conclusion, rather than turning it into a baseless argument.
3. Listen
People tend to contribute more to political discussions when they are aware that their contributions will be considered. When talking politics, if you want to challenge a particular situation, ensure you do it intelligently and politely in order to avoid complicating the matter. With this, you also get the opportunity for them to reciprocate the gesture.
Conclusion
In politics, ending a discussion is as essential as starting one. In situations in which the discussion is getting nasty and just going in circles, find a way to excuse yourself. Utmost participation in politics is something everyone should be involved in, as it should not just be left to an individual or group of people.
