Dear America,

Insincerity is rampant in your elections and seems to now operate as a prerequisite for any potential candidate.

On November 3, my fellow Americans and I will finally have the chance to do what you, Hollywood and seemingly every public institution has told us to do just once every four years: vote.

But that is my point, right? Even the insincerity in your campaigning for votes is exhausting. You seem to forget the state and local elections that happen every two years. Instead, you have convinced us that the office of President is the only thing at stake this November.

I wager that most Americans could not tell you what (other than President) is on their ballot come November.

You consistently spend billions of dollars to advertise presidential elections–$5.16 billion so far in 2020’s election, according to OpenSecrets. In fact, you often come close to outspending the budgets of every congressional campaign put together. 

It is for these reasons that I think I need to take a break. This November, I will not be voting for the President—at least not from the choices you have given me.

I do think you deserve to know why. We have had some good times, or so I have heard, and personally, I just want you to understand what exactly is so broken about your system.

I Will Not Compromise My Conscience

This country’s electoral system has been broken for so long that many of us simply accept its brokenness. We operate almost exclusively under an unconstitutional two-party system. Since 2000, only five senators, five representatives and zero presidents have served under a third-party or independent banner.

In fact, Americans have been choosing and splitting between the Democratic and Republican parties for almost two centuries. 

With each side becoming increasingly partisan and radical, it seems that the voter must continue to radicalize with their party or be left in the ever-widening gap between the political left and right.

I will not do that.

I am constantly implored to vote for “my party” simply because it’s what people have always done. That stops this year.

No longer will I take the lesser of two evils, the smarter of the two fifth graders nor even the more coherent of the babbling. This 2020 Presidential Election has presented me with the choice between a career politician firmly rooted in this unconstitutional establishment and a celebrity who is as divisive and polarizing as any politician.

I will not allow a narrow choice to define my morality and conscience. We, as Americans, are faced with not just two options, but six.

I Will Not Crumble Under Partisan Propaganda: Abstinence and Third Party is Not a Vote for the Other Party

On the ballot this November, there will be not just two names with either a D or R beside them. There will be seven other presidential candidates and a write-in option on the ballot. 

As Americans, we are not bound to two choices; instead, we are free to vote for Republican, Democrat, Independent, Third Party or even a write-in. In fact, it is not a requirement to vote at all.

And that is why it is crucial to understand that we are not required to vote for a candidate just because their party has a larger war chest or recognition. 

As a lifelong Mississippian, I am constantly pulled to vote Republican. Not all of the reasons for this are horrible, yet when told to simply vote Republican so that the Democrats will not win, I am astonished.

I have had friends, teachers, family, and strangers demand that I vote for their candidate because somehow we have convinced ourselves that voting for a third party or abstaining somehow translates into a vote for the other side.

It is time we get over this ludicrous fallacy and reject the partisan propaganda that prompts votes not from hope but from fear.

I Will Vote My Conscience: Write-In or Vote for a Third-Party Candidate Who Represents Me

So I will vote.

I will research the candidates using nonpartisan sources and vote my conscience, and I will actively encourage others to do likewise.

I may choose to vote for a candidate who receives less than 5 percent of the vote or abstain all together. However, I will know that I have kept my conscience on this issue clean.

I will not cast my vote for someone who will fail to represent all of Americans equally and fairly. In addition, I implore any others to support the candidate that represents them best regardless of what others may want you to do.

I Will Go and Vote: Mississippi’s Ballot has Thirteen Issues to Vote on Excluding President 

Finally, I would encourage all Americans to become familiar with the other parts of their ballot this November. Sure, this is the presidential election, but it is also the general election. 

In Mississippi there are thirteen other issues on the ballot that includes one senator, four representatives and several justices.

If you are interested in what is on Mississippi’s November ballot you can go to https://mississippitoday.org/2020/09/09/heres-what-the-november-ballot-will-look-like-in-mississippi/ to find a sample ballot.

If you are looking for some nonpartisan information on the presidential candidates here is a good source: https://2020election.procon.org/view.source-summary-chart.php 

I would encourage all Americans to go and vote if you have not already voted in early voting. Let this year be the year that America begins to vote with hope and not fear.

In sincerity,