Contemplate.

Moderator Ron Vodenichar used this word in a question put to the county’s judicial candidates during last week’s 2019 Candidates Forum. Judges, by virtue of their job description, must “contemplate” decisions that affect not only present litigants in their courtrooms, but also ultimately set precedent for future generations.

Contemplation.

It’s the action of looking thoughtfully at an issue — examining it from all sides, thinking about potential impacts and weighing all the outcomes before making a final decision.

We seek and expect such consideration and deliberation in the temperament of those who preside over our courtrooms, but do we always follow that ourselves when it comes to choosing those who will represent us?

Whether it’s in Washington, D.C., or up the road at the township office, all of us should contemplate our decisions heading into not only the upcoming election, but all elections in general. We should be informed voters — much as we expect our judges to be when rendering decisions from the bench — who have fully contemplated the candidates and issues as we head to the ballot box.

According to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, informed voters are knowledgeable about the issues and candidate positions when voting and make decisions without influence from outside factors intended to persuade. They rely less on social media mudslinging and more on educating themselves about the issues facing their communities and learning where candidates stand on those issues.

It’s a day and age when we’re basically bombarded by email blasts, swimming in a sea of social media chatter and turning on the television to politicians slinging mud at one another. Weeding out the truth is sometimes more than overwhelming, it’s downright daunting.

It’s determining the details of a candidate’s political rhetoric meant to persuade voters to put them in office. Peel away the outer layers of the onion and dive deeper into who the candidate is as a person, as well as a politician. Who were they before entering the public arena? What life lessons do they bring to the table that influence and inform their decisions?

And the most important question of all — how do the different candidates’ political platforms relate to you, your family, your life lessons and your values?

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities offers three key suggestions to help arm all voters with the most accurate information available before heading to the polls.

First, use reliable sources when researching candidates, such as scholarly sources and nonpartisan news outlets.

Second, be an active listener/researcher when learning more about candidates and issues and always read between the lines of political rhetoric.

And lastly — and in our opinion, most importantly — do not be cynical and fall into the “my vote doesn’t really matter” trap. The more political pessimists out there, the greater the risk to our democracy.

Every vote counts, but every informed vote coming from considerable contemplation can change the political landscape of our communities, our Keystone State and our nation.

— ALH