Q: I feel guilty. I didn’t vote. I didn’t think my vote would make a difference. Now when my friends debate I keep quiet and they are starting to notice. What can I do?
A: Fifty five percent of Americans voted in 2016. If you didn’t vote you may be keeping company with the following group:
About half the number of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29 (whom we’ll refer to as “millennials,” although millennials also include people in their early-to-mid-30s) cast ballots in this election. That rate falls well below the estimated general voter turnout.
Feeling guilty is not useful; the guilt will keep you stuck in the mud. You may have forfeited your right to vote not realizing that the United States of America functions as a representational democracy: Your vote has meaning. Instead of feeling guilty and checking 
out, focus on being present and engaged now by asking:
- What insight do I now have about the importance and value of voting?
- How will I be involved in the democratic process going forward?
- What are the opportunities to exercise my right to vote? Note: Be aware of the dates and plan to vote in your local elections, town halls, etc.
- How do opportunities for corporate citizenship and/or volunteer days allow me to express my opinion and contribute to the discussion?
Regarding your friends and colleagues:
- Why are you keeping a “secret” from your friends/colleagues? Note: Good friends
almost always know the reason for your silence. Make your life easier and speak up.
Finally, I have a question for you: I wonder, should the United States join the 22 countries that have mandatory voting starting at age 18 or 21? What do you think?