I've never missed voting in any election I was entitled to vote in since I was old enough to vote. And I'm sure as hell not going to start now. Far too much rides on it.
Having said that, here comes your periodic reminder about how you might consider dealing with your civic duty:
By bearing in mind that you'll never find, or be presented with, the perfect candidate—or any exhibitor of perfect unblemished blamelessness that will let you feel safely virtuous in voting for them. There's no such thing. Stop wasting your time looking for one.
Another metaphor: this isn't like picking out the perfect car to buy and then driving exactly where you want to go. It's like taking public transport: you study the map and take the bus or train or tram that'll get you closest to where you want to be. In candidates, the rational search is for someone who gets as close as possible to what you want in a person who's going to be [president][senator][representative][dogcatcher][whatever]. And here you judge them by their actions, not their words.
Are some of the candidates we're looking at (for instance) in 2024 in the US seriously imperfect? Oh yeah. Are they nonetheless a superior choice, based on past and current behavior, to the available options? Yes. Are they screwing up right now? Yes. Are they still a better choice?
That's what you get to make plain with your next vote. There are candidates who'll inevitably offend parts of your conscience if/when you vote for them. But all your conscience gets to do is be offended. You're the one who chooses what action to take. And if you're of age to vote, anything but voting (or doing your very best to*) is refusing the choice—and resigning the power of your vote into the hands of at least one other person who may well want you (or your friends) poor, sick, permanently disenfranchised, or dead.
So bear that in mind. And also note that Tumblr is no less vulnerable to political and propaganda trolling than any other platform. The "One side's as bad as the other, both sides are terrible, voting doesn't matter" stuff is already starting up. Those of us who've been here long enough will have seen it in 2019/20 (and in 2015/2016...), and will recognize it. This stuff invariably comes from people who're trying to suppress your vote. Which raises the question: why would they bother... unless they're really, really afraid of it?
So give them good reason to be afraid... and keep your eyes open. Meanwhile, start studying your regional and local candidates as they shake down into their running positions. This isn't the kind of homework you can do effectively at the last minute. It takes lots more work than clicking on some poll or signing some online petition... but then the stakes of the game are far higher.
Therefore be aware. And get ready to choose responsibly.
*Helping others vote is a good move too, even if you can't.
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