Mindful Voting

The first Tuesday of November typically means “Election Day” in almost every part of the United States. Even though there are no national elections this year, there are plenty of states, counties, and towns encouraging people to get out and vote on special issues or vacant local seats.

An essential aspect of exercising your right to vote is making an informed voting decision, based on your own observations, analysis, and facts gathered. Without taking the time to properly reflect and analyze the political candidates agenda and policies, you run the risk of supporting a campaign that doesn’t best align with your own values, needs, and wants. Thus, making a mindful voting decision is key to creating the change you wish to see.

What is Mindful Voting?

Mindful voting, is voting with a full awareness of the political candidate’s agenda/policies, in order to maximize one’s right of citizenship.

Benefits of Mindful Voting

✓Increases Political Awareness

✓Exercises Critical Thinking

✓Supports Individual Wants, Needs, and Values

Why does Mindful Voting Matter?

Mindful voting matters because the voting decision(s) you make affect the social, economic, and governmental landscape of your community. Mindfully exploring and knowing the politician(s) you are advocating for and electing is an essential aspect of citizenship. Without taking the time to research, observe, and analyze your voting decisions, you run the risk of electing a politician which has agendas and policies that aren’t in alignment with your own citizen needs, values, and wants.

How to Practice Mindful Voting:

“VOTING”

V-Values Exploration-Research the values that the politician holds personally and within their campaign in general. Research the value that they provide and/or will provide in the community.

Step: Search: ‘_________(politician name) values, or campaign values’

O-Observation-Observe the politician’s thoughts, emotions, actions, and motivations, to better understand who they are personally and professionally. Once finished, observe and practice reflection to determine if you resonate with the politician and their agenda/policies or not. Use your reflection insights to guide your voting decision.

Step: Watch interviews and videos of the political candidate, notice their ideas, body language, and overall demeanor. Afterwards reflect by asking yourself the question, ‘Do I resonate with the agenda or policy, why or why not?’

T-Truth-Explore the facts, research, or evidence behind the politician's agenda/policies by performing online research. By performing your own research to discover the truth, you will gain a better understanding of which politician you’d like to vote for.

Step: Research ‘________(politician's name) campaign evidence/research’. Review the evidence and facts behind the politician’s claims to confirm it’s truth.

I-Intentions/Impact-Reflect on the politicians intentions behind their agenda and policies. Ask yourself, “Why would they implement this policy? What is the agenda/policy going to solve, and how? Also, explore the question, “What will the politician’s agenda have within the community?”

N-Needs-To understand if the politician has the community’s best interests at heart, explore how their efforts/campaigns have served the needs of the community. How have the community’s needs been met, or not met?

Step: Research “_________(politician's name) community impact”

G-Generosity-To discover the generosity of the politician and their philanthropic and community service efforts, explore what policies, programs, and efforts they implemented within the community. What has the politician provided to the community?

Step: Search ‘_________(politician's name) philanthropic efforts’

BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR VOTING JOURNEY!