Head, Heart, or Not At All: How do I Vote in 2016?

This year’s presidential race has been more exhausting than anyone would have liked. Religion, disabilities, and genitalia have never been tossed around so nonchalantly for the sake of belittling the opposition (save for the legendary election of 1800), yet here we are six days away from nominating a president that quite frankly, not many Americans feel one hundred percent confident in.

The question now is not “who will I vote for?”, but “How can I decide?”

As America tries to rally everyone to vote, a fear of low turnout still looms. This could be in large part due to the burning question of “Who am I supposed to vote for and not feel bad about it?” and “Does my vote even count?” As the days draw nearer people are sifting through the propaganda to try and make sense of the bare slate at hand.

Racist, insensitive, violent, angry: these are just a few terms thrown out to describe our country’s Republican nominee. Donald Trump is a one of a kind candidate, the likes of which have hardly ever seen on a ballot.

Liar, cheater, unproven: all words that can be seen written everywhere to paint a picture of our Democratic nominee and overall front-runner. Hilary Clinton would be making history as the first female to sit in the Oval Office.

These are all propaganda driven agendas that are meant to evoke emotion. All of these terms are used to make a voter use their heart when they check that box next to whatever name they choose. Go with their gut, so to speak. But is that right? Or should a voter look at the facts more than anything they see or hear in the media?

Through the DNC and rallies nationwide, it has been shown how favorable the media is towards Clinton. Should a person vote in favor of the Democrats solely because they feel she is the lesser of two evils? Or do you vote in favor of Trump because, albeit brash, he says what he feels, unlike the other candidate. Many suggest this to be the weakest class of nominees there has ever been, and it has resulted in a bitter cat-fight in which the only real loser here is the American people.

The two candidates could not be more polar opposites. One is all for tax breaks on the wealthy, proposing that it would enable more entrepreneurial ventures and thus boom our economy. Many voters feel this is credited to his role in the business world. The other thinks that is unfair and uses the opposing candidate’s wealth as an example.

Where Clinton feels the EPA is not strict enough when cracking down on big business, Trump wants them to ease up a bit.

One is pro-choice and the other is not.

Are these do to personal traits or is it their political influences rearing their ugly heads? The disparities in their core values go on. One is heavily in favor of stricter laws regarding guns and the other feels it is everyone’s right to own one.

Research these issues. Use your rational brain to make the decision rather than going in to vote simply based on the character the media has shown.

Ask yourselves this question: what is best for you and your family? Maybe it is not your heart but rather your mind that you chose to vote with this election.

Use research sites like Politifact and Insidegov to dig deeper and see what side of the fence you land on. Exhaust all resources, but do not let your vote go uncounted next week.

Whatever choice you decide to make, whatever candidate you support, do it with confidence. Research with your mind while still listening to your heart. Go into that booth and mark that box, sit down and fill out that ballot.

No matter which candidate you are behind, if you do it with reason and a clear conscience, nobody can cast judgement for that.