How to Decide Who to Vote For if You're Non-Partisan

Unsure of who to vote for during the next Presidential election? These tips can help you decide.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• a piece of paper divided into three columns
• a pen or pencil
• access to the internet
• friends who know where they stand

1. Define your own beliefs. Before deciding who you should vote for it's important to know where you stand on important political issues. Write down a list of issues that are important to you in the first column of your paper. Place the issue that's most important to you at the top of the list and descend in order of importance. Some common political issues include a woman's right to choose, gay marriage, the death penalty and the war in Iraq.
2. Research where the candidates stand on the issues that are most important to you. Understanding what is going on in the political world is an important part of the process. You don't want to choose a side if you don't fully understand the meaning behind it. Place the Republican candidate's stance on the issues in the middle column and the Democratic candidate's beliefs in the third. You now have a clear comparison of your own views and the current candidates.
3. Speak to friends and neighbors. If you are unsure of where you stand on certain issues or if your beliefs are split between candidates you may want to speak to friends from each of the parties. Each side will try to convince you to join their party and will educate you in the process. Remember you are only seeking information, not starting a debate or argument.

Tips & Warnings

• Search your soul to discover your own stance on common political issues.
• Research any point you are unclear about as well as the candidate's stance.
• Register with a specific party if you clearly belong to one party and will most likely never vote for the other.
• Don't just choose who to vote for by their personalities! If you are not clear or have no clue about what they stand for do your homework. You owe it to yourself as well as your fellow Americans to make the right choice!