As a college student during a general election year, I have had the opportunity to take part in registering voters during registration drives across campus that were sponsored by the Gephardt Institute, Student Union, the Congress of the South 40 and numerous other student groups. These efforts should be lauded as one of best ways to prevent potential voters from being disenfranchised by the sometimes confusing practice of registering to vote.

However, in this article I seek not to address voter registration, Obama, McCain, Biden, Palin, horserace journalism, the vice presidential debates, the politically-motivated evils of the Democratic Party, the politically-motivated evils of the Republican Party…you get the idea. Instead, I hope to address and hopefully alleviate the grievances toward a small but sometimes vocal minority this election cycle: the Conscious Non-Vote. This is a voter who seeks not to vote for any candidate in the general election through an informed decision.

For the politically inclined on campus, it may seem blasphemous that someone isn’t voting for Obama or McCain. But, in our two-party, winner-take-all-of-the-white-house electoral system, it is important to note that the two broad-based parties capable of winning do not represent the concerns and values of all registered American voters. And while I’m not going to debate the merits of a multiple-party system or any other voting system in this country, I WILL argue that our present system does not support the voice of all opinions. So please stop yelling at the people who voice their opinion by choosing not to vote for either of your candidates.

Some may argue, “But Brian, I don’t like either candidate 100 percent but I’m still voting for who I want to run the country more! This is important stuff! This is the future!”

However, there is still a notable minority of voters who feel that simply because they prefer one of the two potentially victorious candidates over the other, they cannot consciously give a vote of confidence toward either candidate’s platform. These people are completely validated in their action. Do not berate them and pester them for making an informed decision.

Yet, I would encourage those who seek not to vote for a candidate in the hysteria of our general election cycle to look at the ballot closely and decide if there are state or local issues that they feel strongly about and vote for them. Don’t let the overriding focus our political media places on McCain vs. Obama deter you, the Non-Voter, from voicing your opinion on other issues also on the ballot. Your right to vote is a privilege that begets you a certain amount of responsibility to make an informed and conscientious choice; don’t limit that privilege by only taking a stand on the most covered issue.

As for both the McCain and Obama supporters, a few words of advice: while I would discourage you to take in this election as a political sport or competition in the way our 24-hour news cycle does, don’t let anyone deride you for your informed political choices. Your voice is your own and it should be only yours, free from the tyranny that sometimes leaks into popular opinion. With this in mind, remind yourself that as this electoral marathon sprints to a close those folks on the other “team” may hold voices and opinions just as strong as your own. So before you greet them with bile, try to do so with respect or tact first.