As many politicians prepare to announce their presidential bid, I have realized that the 2012 presidential election will be the first time I will be voting. I have always considered politics to be a very interesting field and the thought of voting always intrigued me. I have always tried to make significant attempts to educate myself on the various positions of candidates and what their plans are. However, for this presidential election, I must ensure that I am very knowledgeable on all aspects of the election.

To me, the most crucial role of a voter is not only to vote, but to be an informed voter. All citizens have different beliefs when it comes to government policy, so it is vital that everyone is aware of which candidate’s platform best aligns with their political ideals. Additionally, citizens must research the politicians to know who will do the most superior job despite the actual views of the candidate.

Many times voters select the nominee who is part of the same political party that they are. Numerous voters do not realize that some individuals may not actually pursue the policies they speak about. This is where researching to become an informed voter becomes a key issue. A voter should read about other policies that have been implemented by the candidate, what part the candidate had in different government procedures and the type of experience the candidate has that would benefit the country.

Also, voters should be aware that the media can be biased and hinder the quality of accurate knowledge they receive. The best way to be completely informed is to obtain information from a variety of resources in order to be sure that the information is credible. In order to actually play an effective role in the democratic election process, a voter must be educated on the candidates and their various platforms.

The fact that I will be a voter this year has caused me to pay closer attention to everything occurring in politics currently and what kind of president should be elected. In the last election, there was a huge increase in the number of new, younger voters. This is proof that if the younger voters came together and all participated in the elections, they could have a meaningful vote.

As politicians declare candidacy, it is of utmost importance to learn about those individuals in order to be informed when voting. Although the election is more than a year away, the research and education process should ideally begin now. I am definitely thrilled to be able to follow the 2012 presidential election knowing that this time I will be able to vote!

By: Feyaad Allie