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Whether you should vote in the next election depends on whether you care about the direction of your country, your state, or your community. If you don't care, do nothing. But you might want to limit your complaints. After all, you had a choice and you blew it.

If you care about the issues, your vote is ALWAYS worth it. But don't be fooled into believing that you have to vote Democrat or Republican. There are often other choices out there, which may in some cases better reflect your views.

Most of the issues that directly affect your life are on the state or local level, areas where you can have a lot of influence if you are politically active. Work on campaigns, get to know the politicians and make sure they know you, so that when you show up at the Capitol they know you mean business.

If you absolutely, positively cannot bring yourself to vote for any of the candidates on the slate, I strongly suggest you turn in a blank ballot. A blank ballot records you as having voted, even though your vote went to nobody. Then when you call your representative with an issue and they check to see if you voted (they do this, actually - they can't see HOW you voted but they can and DO see whether or not you turn out to vote, and they make their decisions on your opinion accordingly), you'll show up on their lists and they'll be inclined to take you more seriously.

Learn more about this author, Gideon MacLeish.
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