Often, when people are reminded to vote—not told who to vote for, but simply reminded to exercise their franchise —they react with a great deal of skepticism. Voting doesn’t matter, some say, or that their votes won’t count anyway so why should they bother. Not surprising, yes, but still incredibly saddening and, ultimately, wrong.
Voting DOES matter.
While it is true that the candidates we vote for don’t always win, the mere act of voting is itself significant. It is significant in that simply exercising your right of suffrage connects you to the great democratic tradition of individuals taking part in their own governance. It is meaningful in the sense that it allows you to honor the memory of those who sacrificed much, even their very lives, so that Filipinos could enjoy the right of self-determination. But beyond all of that, and in a way more practical sense, voting matters because it gives you a voice in government—yes, even if the one you voted for actually lost.
Whether we like it or not, the government affects every aspect of our lives—from womb to tomb. By voting, you get the opportunity to put a government in place that will care for you, provide you opportunities for prosperity and happiness, and protect you the way you want. Voting does this because the candidates you vote for act as your representatives. These candidates, if they win, will make decisions that you presumably agree with or which, at the very least, are based on a vision or philosophy you share. Thus, for instance, if you weren’t a fan of misogyny, then you might vote for someone who carries an anti-misogyny message and passes laws or makes policies that conform with that stance.
Now, assume that person lost. Does that mean his or her advocacy is lost as well? Not necessarily.
Ever notice how a small winning margin—“maliit lang ang lamang” as they say—is considered a sort of saving grace by losing candidates? This is because when the winning margin is small, the losing candidate retains much of his or her power to influence policy—simply by virtue of the fact that a significant number of people believe in the message he or she espouses. To be perfectly frank about it, no winner would ever dare to ignore a candidate who—despite losing—still commands the loyalty of a great number of people. If for no other reason, then because that candidate may actually win the next elections.
In contrast, winners of landslide victories don’t have to worry much about what their less fortunate opponents think. A massive winning margin—as in the case of a landslide victory—sends the signal that the opponent lacks the power to attract votes and will therefore have very little power to shape or influence policy.
And this is why your vote matters. If your candidate wins, then you will have directly influenced the policies and laws that the elected government will push through. On the other, even if your candidate loses, then your vote will still have contributed to ensuring that your candidate—and by extension, your own views on how government should be run—remains a potent political force. This is especially true if the losing candidate continues his or her advocacies despite the loss. In that way, even the loser will continue to have an impact on the public discourse. On the other hand, if you didn’t vote, then you will have simply made your fear of an ineffectual vote a self-fulfilling one, and you will have consigned your candidate—and his or her advocacy for the causes you believe in—to the dustbin of history.
So vote, because win or lose, it really does matter.