Choosing a political party in 5 steps
Last week I struggled through the first party program. I usually waver between two parties, so I feel I need to read up. And then I also choose the extensive version, because I find the version with ‘simple language’ too simplistic. I like to make it difficult for myself. To not make it unnecessarily complicated for you, here are some tips, so you might know a bit better which of the 37 parties (!) you want to vote for this year.
1. Look beyond the voting guide
It is impossible to fit all plans and all statements into one such quiz; so do not rely solely on the outcome of a voting guide. But if you do like to use a voting guide as help, do about three of them. This way you get a broader outcome that you can compare with each other.
2. Activate help lines
No one expects you to read all election programs down to the last detail; others can do that for you. The account Check Je Stem nicely summarizes in statements what a party stands for. Vote For A Woman shows how we can make the House of Representatives more inclusive ourselves. And you can't turn on the TV or radio without hearing and seeing a party leader and their statements this week. All easy ways to figure out which party suits you.
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3. Results from the past
Look, it is of course ideal for a political party to show what they plan to do, but don't forget to look at what parties have done and how they operate. On paper, things often look better than in reality. Take a moment to review what a party's positions were in the past years. Did they vote on important issues as you would? And what also works for me: zoom in broadly on the parties that feel right for you and your lifestyle.
4. Just read the quick version of the program
Reading a simplified, quick, Jip-and-Janneke version of something is better than reading nothing. By the way, can we also stop calling this a Jip-and-Janneke or simple-language version? A quick version suffices. This way you get exactly what you need to know from a party you would want to vote for.
5. Whatever you do: go vote
It is not at all so obvious that you have something to choose from in the world. In Kuwait, women only got the right to vote in 2005, and in Saudi Arabia, you have nothing to choose from at all. Try to choose a political party that you can (at least a little) identify with. So fish your ballot from the mailbox, grab your ID, and vote on Wednesday.
