to not vote

a friend who is a high school graduate from rural Philippines told me that it is punishable by law if I do not vote. I told him it is one’s right to vote, and it’s not compulsory. He insisted that I would be imprisoned if I do not vote. I needed not argue. Come election time, I did not cast my vote. Of course, I was not imprisoned.

There are 2 reasons why I did not vote. It is not a question of me no longer believing in this democratic right, but primary reason is that I no longer believe in the people who will be installed as a result of this democratic right. Same people with same promises, nothing has improved and nothing has changed in this exercise. i need not elaborate, newspapers all over say it all and say it clear. this is politics, and no one should attempt to understand it.

the second reason is more likable, though frustrating on my part. a day before election, i decided to go home to vote. i imagined a 5 hour rough ride to my old hometown that never really wakes up from slumber. maybe i could make a difference in exercising my right. after buying flowers for my mom (mothers day entry is in the making), and running after time, i was just on time to arrive in the new bus terminal to catch for the 11:30am trip home. after waiting for 2 hours, i wondered if i was really on time. so i called home and asked for the sked. able to contact the driver, he told me they left an hour earlier because they just left earlier. just like that. a sunday at that, no more other means of going home, no more other means of voting at home. why would i spend more in buying a car just to be home to vote? no way, i just said i am not voting with finality, and later to decide to go home some other time, not to vote but to relax. and so i did not go home. and i did not vote. i regret of one thing though, that is, not able to give my flowers for mom on mother's day.

three days after election, with all the news i have heard, to not vote was the best democratic exercise i have ever done for my country. i ended watching tv for the past few days.