Making Your Child's Vote Count
Who taught you how to vote? Do you vote along the lines of your parents' political party? Do you do your own research or do you allow the media to decide what information is vital? A question all parents should be asking themselves is, "Who is teaching my child how to vote?"
When it comes to voting, we probably won’t need to teach the next generation how to poke a chad or pull a lever. Most likely, the next generation will not stand in line at a polling place or vote in a booth. In the comfort of their own homes, they’ll validate their identity on a home computer and retinal scan and print the little “I voted” validation sticker. This will be the generation that votes online and the results will be known before lunch.
With that much of a shift in the way we vote, the only element left to teach our children about voting is the most important part...the process! Voting is more than an action. Casting a ballot is the final step in a properly informed decision-making process. One of the great responsibilities of parenting is to teach that process to your children.
The typical American makes his or her voting decisions according to the "M & M Process" - what does the Media say and what's in it for Me? There are even numerous Christians that either don't choose to look to God for guidance for their voting decision or they simply don’t know how. Why? It is because they didn’t learn the process from their parents.
As we enter the final stages of this presidential election, begin the process of teaching responsible voting by the example you set. As a parent you can tell your children how you are making the decisions about the upcoming vote. This makes for great table talk and drive time discussions. Put the issues out for discussion and then validate your stand on the issues.
Every family with a teenager will probably have a child who will automatically disagree with mom or dad’s reasoning. That’s okay. Let your child have an opinion, but force him/her to defend it. Remember, this is a learning process. Disagreeing harshly with the view of your teenager will only drive him/her further away from the learning process. Remember, the goal is not to try to make your child vote the way you vote. Your goal is to prepare your child to be a wise, God-honoring voter in the future. Give freedom. Remember how much freedom your Father gives you.
As Election Day approaches, create a mock ballot for each family member to cast a vote. Select some key positions (such as the president) and include some important issues on the ballot. Have each family member write an explanation for his/her decisions. Place the ballots in an envelope to be opened and tallied the night of the election. In turn, this will excite the children about the election and will create a desire for them to know the results of both the family mock election and the official election.
Finally, encourage your child to vote. Whether it is in the family’s mock trial, a student body campaign, or for local or national government, children need encouragement throughout the voting process. Children must understand that their vote is important…it matters…it counts. Voting… informed, prayerful voting…is our right as US citizens, but it is our responsibility as Christians. Take matters into your own hands. Rather than having your children conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2) or allowing talk show hosts or co-workers to influence and essentially, make the decision for them; teach them how to vote. Parents must teach children how to process the information, how to make an informed decision, and how to seek God for guidance. This process is significant and vital for the future of America.