I have talked with several people in the last few days who worry about a “wasted vote.” The argument is that voting for a candidate who has little chance of winning has no value. It is better, the argument goes, to vote for an individual who can win.
I understand that argument from a statistical point of view. We like to think our votes mattered in the final count. That is particularly true in local elections, where there are instances of candidates winning by just a handful of votes.
But I disagree with it philosophically.
Elections in a free society like ours empower voters to make personal and private statements about candidates, campaigns and issues. Each vote has numeric merit, but it also reflects an individual’s values.
Let’s say you closely align with a particular candidate on the issues, and you truly believe they are the best person for the job. Your vote for them reflects your deep-seated convictions. Voting for them provides a level of satisfaction; it is your choice… no one else’s.
Yes, the argument goes, but it will not change the outcome of the election.
My answer to that is a flippant “so what?” As I said earlier, that one vote might be effective in a close local race, but candidly the impact of that individual vote in most races, especially statewide or national races, means very little.
How many times has a defeated candidate met a supporter who says, “I voted for you. I thought you were the best person for the job. I’m sorry you lost.” The candidate might genuinely appreciate that. It might lift their spirits to know that their efforts mattered, and it gives the voter a chance to connect personally with someone they agree with and admire.
That also has value in a democracy.
The focus on election night and afterward is typically on the number of votes the winner received and the margin of victory, but often lost in the discussion are all the people who voted for the candidate who lost. Those votes count, too.
Abraham Lincoln said. “Elections belong to the people. It is their decision.” That is true power, and that power is not just about being on the winning side; it is an exercise of an individual’s power to state for the record their political beliefs.
No vote that is a true expression of your beliefs is a wasted vote.