Can I Vote for Kamala Harris If I Don’t Agree with Her on Everything?

Whether you’re someone who dives deeply into every issue before voting or you only hit the polls occasionally (or not at all), a common question that pops up is: Should I vote for a candidate even if we don’t see eye-to-eye on everything?

Voting is a big deal, but the choice is totally yours. You must figure out what’s in your best interest based on what matters most to you. As you think about this year’s presidential election, here’s a way to break it down:

Someone’s Going to Win: Every election ends with a winner, and that person will have a say in things that could either make your life better or worse. Voting is your shot at picking who that person is.

Your Vote Still Counts: Maybe  you’re thinking, “I voted last time, and nothing changed.” It’s true that in our system, no one person has all the power, unlike in a dictatorship. A president can push for changes, but they also need support from Congress (the House and the Senate) to get things done. Only bills that are first passed by the House and the Senate can be signed into law by the president. So, think of voting as laying down one of the key building blocks for change. Sometimes it takes multiple elections to see big changes, because it may take that long to elect a House, Senate and president that can work together enough to make these changes. But, in every election, your vote can help move things in the right direction.

No Perfect Candidates: It’s not likely you’ll find a candidate who lines up perfectly with everything you believe. If that was a requirement, most people would never vote. Instead, think about voting like this: not every change can happen overnight through elections alone. Some changes need activism and advocacy, where we work to change people’s minds and influence politicians. In every election, do what you can to support change through the political process, and for the problems that don’t get fixed right away, keep fighting for it through other means, like activism and advocacy. Also, when picking a candidate, consider not just where they stand on issues, but their overall values. Even if you don’t agree on everything, it’s easier to work with or change the mind of someone whose values align with yours than someone who’s completely opposed to what you believe in.

            In the end, voting is about choosing who you think will be the best person to either support the changes you want or be open to listening when you advocate to them. So, even if you don’t agree with Harris on everything, think about who you’d rather have in office when it comes to pushing for what matters to you.