Many people, including most La Plata County voters, have their ballots. With that, there are two key things to remember: Vote. And do so in a manner that will matter.
What that means at the top of the ballot is pick either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Voters who do otherwise will have abdicated their responsibility.
A great many voters want nothing to do with either Trump or Clinton, which is understandable. But barring some calamity, on Jan. 20, one of those two will be sworn in as president. None of the other candidates has a chance.
Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are running to build up the Libertarian and Green parties, respectively, in the hope of making them viable alternatives to the Republican and Democratic parties. That could happen – someday.
But except for dedicated Libertarians or Greens hoping to advance the revolution they believe is coming, a vote for Johnson or Stein will not matter. Ballots do not come with space for explanations, so no one will know if a vote for one of them was a protest against Clinton and Trump, a mistake or an honest endorsement.
Any ballots cast for the Prohibition, Socialist Workers, Nutrition or other fringe party candidates will be seen as the work of cranks and dismissed out of hand.
And the least productive alternative is attempting a write-in vote. In Colorado, write-in candidates must apply with the secretary of state and fill out forms to be included on a write-in list. Only candidates on that list may receive write-in votes. (There are a dozen running for president this year.)
A write-in vote for anyone else – Mike Pence, for example – will not be counted and will go completely unnoticed. That is not much of a protest.
A better use of the right to vote is to vote. Few people actually seem to believe there is no difference between the two.
The Herald has endorsed Hillary Clinton on the grounds that, though flawed, she is highly qualified, while Donald Trump is manifestly and demonstrably not. Those who disagree should vote their conscience.
But either way, vote.
