Elections are an exciting, yet sometimes confusing time for many voters.
Whilst some people immediately know which party they're going to give their vote, others are uncertain about the options they're presented with.
It doesn't help that in some countries there isn't a whole lot of information given to the voters - at best, there will be a leaflet dropped in the mailbox with some basic notes about how that specific party is better than the other ones.
And what if the options all appear so similar? What if you don't particularly trust any of the parties? What if you don't think the party of your choice stands a chance in the elections...
should you still vote for them? Why should you vote at all, when it may not make a difference? First of all, your vote does count.
This may not always seem to be the case, because it's just one little vote, but when many people stop voting it's easier for the current establishment to stay in place.
That's not always a problem, if the current leadership is fine, but if it's change that you want, I recommend going out there and vote for the change you desire.
It is true that, for example in the UK, there does not appear to be that much of a difference between the main parties.
It's easy, then, to feel like it doesn't matter who is in charge.
My advice is to have a close look at all the available options, from the main parties to the smaller ones.
Leaflets may not present the voter with a lot of information, which is why I recommend an online search for the parties' websites.
The material on offer can be a bit dry, but at least you'll find out what the parties stand for and what their plans are, should they be elected.
It's unlikely that you'll find an option that will be completely in line with your ideals.
It's important to weigh the good against the bad.
How bad is the bad? Would you be able to live with those aspects? Are the good policies worth it? If you are uncertain, don't hesitate to contact your local representative of said party.
They should be able to answer any questions you might have.
If you've found a party you're in agreement with and it happens to be a smaller player in the political field, don't hesitate to vote for them.
There's a common misconception that such a vote would be a wasted one.
However, just because they stand a relatively smaller chance in the elections doesn't mean you should therefore give your vote to a major party instead - not if you don't particularly want to vote for that major party! It's a bit of a catch-22 situation.
If people believe smaller parties will never win and that therefore a vote for them is a wasted vote, then they won't receive any votes and won't get elected.
If people take a chance and vote for the party they want to, regardless of said party being smaller, that party will gain more votes and might actually stand a chance.
At the very least it will send a message out that the major parties aren't representing the views of a significant amount of people.
That said, I do not recommend the so-called protest vote.
There are people willing to vote for smaller parties just because they do not trust any of the options available, especially not the major players.
The parties attracting the protest voters tend to be those of a more extreme nature.
If you want to vote for a party because you believe in what they represent, and if you feel you can live with their policies should they gain the majority vote, then that is fine because it means you've chosen the party for you.
However, if you only vote to send out a message to the other parties, please consider how it would feel if said party was elected and you'd have to live with policies you may not particularly agree with.
In all cases, I recommend research.
Read up on what each of the options offers you.
Ask questions if needs be.
Make certain that proposed policies make sense and that they are workable.
Make certain that you are informed.
Most of all, make your vote count.
Best of luck in the elections!