During the election season “pro-voting” media content and conversations become almost unbearable trying to save “non-voters” and “undecideds” from everlasting torture in the pit of hell-ocracy, with everyone reading from the same bible.

Vote evangelists want you to put an ‘X’ beside something. They think that everybody has to identify with a political party, and they keep skipping the first commandment of a democracy; participation. I was compelled — possibly touched — to write this with hope of relieving many non-voters and undecideds of their sins.

I will declare that I have not voted and will not vote until I have seen a candidate or a political party that best represents and voices the issues that concern me the most. These include making comprehensive constitutional and governance reform a top level priority, environmental protection, equality, and closing the income gap. Until then, I will withhold exercising this sacred right.

Many would immediately choose to castigate my choice, by automatically replying, “If you don’t use your right, you will lose it!” Indeed, this message, intended to support citizen empowerment and participation, cannot be used to justify irresponsible use or abuse of your own rights. As I understand it, being a citizen in a democratic society, one has individual rights with mutually linked responsibilities. These rights ensure equality and justice for all regardless of what ‘divides’ us; and the responsibilities are there to prevent us from infringing upon others and their own rights.

Right to vote & its responsibilities

If you do decide to cast your ballot, then you’ve decided to engage in a single part of “the process” that is linked to generations of hardships, fights, bloodshed, activism, and political willingness across the world. The right to have a say in who is allowed to govern locally or nationally is an awesome task and is constrainted by two main responsibilities: become informed and vote according to one’s certain belief.

Therefore, a vote should be respected as it symbolises a conscious decision in which the chosen person or party is indeed the best representation of one’s belief at that moment with all issues factored in. Hence, to defy one’s conscience and express his beliefs wrongly on a ballot is to behave as an irresponsible citizen and soil the sacredness of the vote. It is then safe to deduce that one should not be chastised for being an informed non-voter or an undecided who has weighed all options and come to a conclusion. Those who are to be shamed are the irresponsible voters who are the legions of “die-hearteds” and “party loyalist” who are uninformed and their only certain belief is that “mi born a Comrade or Labouite!”

A dangerous farce

Any political messaging that seeks to segregate or render a group of people as second-class citizens must be rebuked as dangerous to the social fabric of our nation. Many declared non-voters and undecideds receive flak before, during and after the election season because the prevailing belief is that you should not say anything because you don’t vote. It is encouraged by our political leaders — especially those who could benefit from higher turnouts — when they take to political platforms “looking votes” as disguised advocates of citizen involvement. The undue burden of being told how horrible not voting is, and how you are allowing bad people to win, is one you are made to bear. It is a selfish practice to satisfy politicians’ own shortcomings in their own inabilities to inspire or motivate.

Participation in the process

I, like so many other young, politically untethered Jamaicans, am aware of the encryption and political warping since Independence of what a democratic society truly represents in the 21st century. So, I can easily resist and counter the calls for “undecideds” and “non-voters” to “come off the fence” or “come into the yard”. I know that voting is not “the process”, but merely a part of the process. The process must include dialogue between State and civil society, advocacy, activism, volunteering, affecting/writing policy, old media/social media interactions, civil action/protest, keeping yourself informed, and the list continues.

Discussions must begin to focus on how we get people involved; not just to lead towards a ballot box, but create long-lasting positive changes in their society by speaking up and speaking out against bad governance. Only voting every five or so years cannot and should not be seen as participation. Voting alone doesn’t affect government policy or hold Government accountable.

I don’t vote and I don’t feel any pressure to vote, because I know I’ve a well-informed and certain decision to withdraw from voting; nothing separates me from someone voting for any party or individual. I subscribe to my responsibility as a citizen of a democratic State to participate when I decide or find it necessary to vote.

Theodore Roosevelt said: “A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.”