Updated 12/27/21
So what are the top reasons that you would vote for a particular candidate? Why is it important that you vet the candidates? Here are nine of many reasons people vote for a particular candidate and my opinion as to why they are or are not good stand alone reasons.
1. Name recognition. This is one of the top reasons people vote for a candidate. If the candidate is not the best one for the job, keep scrolling. Vet (examine) your candidates before you go to the voting booth.
2. Issues. No candidate will agree with you on every issue. Set your “absolutes” at the top of your list and prioritize the less important issues to be able to make a wiser choice.
3. “Because my spouse is…” Just because a friend, boss or spouse is voting for a candidate, does not necessarily mean they know better than you. Vet your candidates and share your information with them. Then decide.
4. Voting Record. (if they already hold an office) A candidate’s voting record is a great place to find out just how conservative/liberal they are and just how they will spend your money. It is public information.
5. Great Speaker. Politicians are usually great speakers, but not necessarily great leaders. (This is a conundrum because they really are not our leaders. We elect them to do a job for us, to listen and do the right thing, to represent us, not lead us.) Trust your intuition on this one, but find out more about them. Are they telling the truth or just what this crowd wants to hear?
6. Win Debates. Who determines the winner…an impartial mediator or a biased one? Also, we’ve seen a great man lose debate after debate, but he was still a great politician, even if he wasn’t a great debater. Vet your candidate further.
7. Incumbent. Did he/she do a good job? Go back to #4. How does he/she fit in with your “issues” list in #2? Vet him/her, again, anyway.
8. Poll leader. So many things wrong with this one, like who conducted the poll, who were the voters being polled, how big was the polling pool and where were they from? Were they Republicans being polled about Republican candidates or Democrats/Independents being polled about Republican candidates? And…go back to #3.
9. Integrity. Looking at the other side of the political spectrum to the Federal level of officials who are the most notorious for their scheming, bribing, lying, and shaming, to get their way, but they are not the only ones (and they are not all that way.) Even local politicians are not above that. Talk to people you have in common with them and find out about what kind of person they are, husband, father, provider, leader, etc. The best way to get to know someone is to speak with them directly, face to face. You know your dog trusts you and is trust-worthy because they look you in the eye. People are no different. Integrity is not just about being honest, but living the life. It's like the preacher asking if you just "talk the talk" or do you "walk the walk?" Same thing.
The best reason to vote for a particular candidate is because you know them.
With the ability to go to the Internet, television, radio, newspapers, email, phones, and conversations with others to learn about candidates, there is no excuse not to know who you are voting for and why you are voting for them and not others. Other suggestions to learn about them are attending forums, Republican Party meetings, Republican Women’s meetings, candidate events and many more. Take advantage of every opportunity to know your candidates.
