Column: Not voting is OK
Published April 16, 2010
Last week I was bombarded with students, campus organizations and even The Maneater's other political columnist, Jordan Stein, encouraging me to vote in last Tuesday's municipal election. I chose not to vote because Columbia does not feel like my home, and it would be unfair to its true residents.
This year is only my second living in Columbia, and next year will probably be my last. I'm not a resident by my book, merely a visitor spending majority of my time on campus.
I vote in Des Peres because it is where my family lives, where I grew up, where we pay taxes and where I consider my home.
Last week, in a column supporting voting, Stein said a single vote does matter.
"When you get down on the local level, candidates can get elected and propositions can pass by pretty small margins," she said.
Yes, they can, but, why should I, someone who does not work in Columbia and only plans on living here another year, have the right to tell the city's residents how to run their town?
Take for example last week's vote on safety cameras downtown. I did not agree with putting safety cameras downtown because I thought it was an invasion of privacy.
But if Columbians make the decision to give up their privacy for more security, then that is their choice. They should not have to sacrifice their safety because it makes me uncomfortable. At the end of the day, I am just a guest.
How would you like it if someone showed up to your family dinner and on the first night got to vote on where you take your next vacation? It would not be fair but neither is voting in a city where you will not be around to face the consequences of your decision.
One of the lines used to encourage students to vote in Columbia is by telling them: "Do your civic duty and vote. It's your right."
Although it is your right to vote, you do not have to exercise all your rights to be a good resident. I have the right to own a gun, but I don't exercise that right, because there's no reason for me to have one at this point in my life.
In Jordan Stein's column, she discussed the importance of voting.
"There's something really patriotic and rewarding about taking advantage of this really important right," Stein said.
It does feel patriotic and rewarding but only when you feel connected to that vote. Personally, Columbia does not feel like my home, so I do not feel connected to the vote or feel a sense of pride. It feels more like I am forcing my views on others.
If you have a firm belief and consider Columbia your home, then vote. But, if you do not consider Columbia your home, then don't let some group on campus pressure you into it.
Clay Carter is a sophomore finance major and can be reached at ccp6c@mail.missouri.edu