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| Andrew Stewart and CIA Director David Petraeus |
This marks the first year I will be able to vote in a presidential election. I am both excited and a little skeptical of the decision I am about to make. I understand that voting is a right that all Americans should exercise, but is my voice really being heard through this voting process?
For one, as a voter in Kentucky, I already know our electoral votes will be given to Mitt Romney and the Republican ticket. So why would a vote for President Obama matter? Granted, I do know my vote will also be counted in the popular vote, but it's the electoral votes that matter. Also, what if I don't agree fully with the positions of either candidate on major issues? I know I won't agree completely with both sides, but what if I am beginning to get the vibe that I am an undecided voter? If I can't lean to either side because I disagree with major positions on both side, what am I to do? I could vote for a third party candidate, but all that would do is take away a vote for the party I am projected to vote for. Would my vote mean much more of a difference in a swing state? Would I feel more of a pressure to really dig deep into this decision if I lived in Ohio? I just don't know.
Regardless of who I decide to vote for as President, I want that person to show leadership skills to work with both parties to be successful. I know that isn't the traditional partisan view displayed in the media, but honestly, does it matter what party you're apart of if you are able to work with various people to pass policies to improve our nation? The thing is, this is all so subjective. Politicians lie all the time and are misleading, so I don't know if either candidate will follow through with everything they have promised.
Maybe my vote does matter, but I don't want to watch the inaugural address in January wondering what will be next. Only God knows what our future holds as a nation, but I hope the President realizes that when they are elected they have my support, and they don't take that for granted.
Andrew Stewart, from Hardin County, Ky., is a McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. He is majoring in political science.