Commentary: Taylor Swift Encouraged Us to Research Before Voting. But How?
You don’t have to be a dedicated Swiftie or share Taylor Swift’s political views to see the value in her advice: doing your own election research is key.
As an independent voter who has supported both Democrats and Republicans, I appreciated Swift’s recent presidential endorsement, not for telling people who to vote for, but for encouraging a thoughtful approach to the process. What she didn’t do was explain how we can apply her advice in our own lives.
Swift is right: “Now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics.” And, as she said, “your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.” But how can we efficiently put that into action in our busy lives?
Here’s a simple, nonpartisan guide to becoming a more informed voter without getting lost in the noise of political rhetoric:
1. Identify Your Priorities
Decide what issues matter most to you. This should be your decision alone—free from the influence of candidates, parties, influencers, or even friends and family. As Swift put it, look for candidates who “fight for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”
Swift shared her own causes, but what are yours? Common concerns include the economy, health care, abortion, foreign policy, guns, inequality, crime, and climate change. A recent Pew Research poll found that most voters have at least five priority issues, so don’t feel pressured to focus on just one.
2. Research Candidates’ Positions
The media often focuses on poll numbers or sensational headlines, making it harder to find real policy information. Luckily, there are nonpartisan resources to help you dig into candidates’ stances on the issues you care about most:
– Ballotpedia offers extensive details on candidate policies and background.
– ProCon presents an easy-to-read table with links for more in-depth exploration.
– Guides.Vote provides a National Voter’s Guide that, while slightly left-leaning at times, includes quotes and positions from all candidates.
3. Evaluate the Impact of Their Policies
Once you’ve identified each candidate’s stance, dig deeper into what experts say about the potential effects of their policies. Use search engines to look up questions like “Which candidate’s economic policies would be better for the country?” Avoid partisan sources and focus on objective, nonpartisan analysis.
4. Assess Trustworthiness and Leadership
Finally, determine how much you trust each candidate to follow through on their promises and make wise decisions. Fact-checking websites can be helpful, but ultimately, this is your judgment call. Ask yourself questions like: Who is more likely to be honest with the public in a crisis? Who will take advice from their advisors seriously?
5. Make an Informed Decision — and Vote
Spending just two to four hours researching can dramatically improve your understanding of key issues. Keep an open mind and avoid only seeking out information that supports your pre-existing views—this helps counter confirmation bias. As Swift emphasized, the research is useless if you don’t vote. Head to **Vote.gov** to ensure you’re registered and ready to participate in the election process.
In the end, you don’t need to be a Swiftie to appreciate the importance of being informed. Doing your own election homework is a step toward making the best choice for yourself—and for the country.