Every Vote Counts

“Once you label me, you negate me.” – Soren Kierkegaard

“Charlie Crist switched political parties, but then again Rick Scott sure looks a lot like Voldemort…” I think as I’m frantically researching on my laptop before Election Day. It’s my first time voting, and it sure doesn't feel like the “empowering” experience I was promised. After reading page after page of political jargon, I feel more confused and overwhelmed than before. There should really be a new campaign slogan for voting that truly reflects this wonderful experience I was going through. Something like, “If you want to accidentally offend everyone around you with politics and generally feel worse about the state of America, come out and vote!”

As I’m opening tab after tab online about governors, medical marijuana, and judges, I feel cornered. I can’t escape becoming labeled. Democrat, republican, hell-bound, idiot, commie, fascist, failure. I don’t want a new label. All I want is a way to escape the absurdity of throwing myself into a corner of the political rink and screaming obscenities at the others. Even my favorite distraction, TV, has failed me. Political commercials run around the clock. And what would normally be a relaxing evening run outside turns into a game of dodging picketers at street corners.

While this chaotic political mess is happening around me, I notice the truth behind Danish philosopher Kierkegaard’s wise words: “Once you label me, you negate me.” That’s exactly what I've found to be true as I talk with my friends about this election. Once they find out who I’m considering voting for, I’m automatically labeled. I am no longer Lynn Walsh, your friend, but am Lynn Walsh, the one who single-handedly will destroy democracy as we know it. Politics have become our poison, and I don’t want to become one of those mindless drones who is so sold out to her party that I stop looking at people as humans and instead see a potential vote.

But after hours of research, and quite a few frustrated screams over the shallowness of our politicians and voters alike, I finally bubbled in the corresponding circles next to my favorite candidates. I can finally look forward to watching Breaking Bad reruns without dramatic political commercials popping up every five minutes, and that alone might have made this struggle worthwhile.