I absolutely hate politics. I hate the months leading up to elections and having to listen to/watch the constant campaign commercials and mudslinging. I will delete and report as spam ANY candidate who decides to send me those obnoxious campaign text messages! Maybe it’s because I taught ELA for so long, but I am not just going to take some random text, mailer, or commercial’s word for it—if I am going to decide to vote for you, I am going to do my own research and make sure the sources I use are credible. Then I will decide who I prefer.

And don’t get me started on political parties. These days, if you are a thinking person, it’s virtually impossible to claim to be Republican or Democrat. Those titles used to hold meaning, but not since I was a youngster. My personal values don’t align completely with either party anymore, so I consider myself a “freelance” voter who will sometimes vote for Republican, Democrat, or even independent candidates, depending on their ideologies and political power. Yet I have so many friends and acquaintances who vote straight party, regardless of a candidate’s record, ethics, or personal morality.

Here are my thoughts on how we should all approach voting. (I promise I am not going to tell you who to vote for, just some tips about using simple logic to help yourself make the best decisions for you and your family.) If you’re a new voter, this is for you, and if you’re a seasoned voter, maybe I can help you think twice about your decision-making methods.

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