In this day and age, there’s no more powerful clearing house of anecdotal evidence than the Internet itself. According to Google, searches containing the words “write in” spiked last month by about 2,800 percent. That’s a pretty clear indication that many voters are looking for names that aren’t going to be on their ballots.

We’re not going to coddle you: there are no perfect candidates or choices before you today. But take heart — there never have been, ever. For all its (seemingly endless) pathos and convention-shattering scandals, this election ultimately gives you what every other already has: too few names on your ballot, too few contested races, and too many unfulfilling choices.

Still, every eligible voter should participate in today’s democratic exercise. There’s just no good excuse not to. Let’s take a look at why some common excuses for throwing away your vote or opting out entirely don’t hold water.

n “I don’t like either presidential candidate, so I’m not voting.”

This refrain always sounds exactly like what it is: an uninspired cop-out.

Just because we call it a presidential election doesn’t mean Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the only two names on the ballot. Allowing two candidates you dislike to frustrate you into sitting it out entirely is childish and irresponsible.

First, how much (or little) that person can do while in office will be influenced by things like congressional races — including a toss-up between Republican Sen. Pat Toomey and Democrat Katie McGinty here in Pennsylvania — around the country.

Second, it’s not all about national politics. There’s a bumper crop of state-level row offices and seats in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly up for grabs as well. Those choices will help decide the future of the commonwealth for years to come, and they don’t have anything to do with your feelings about the top of the ticket.

n “My write-in vote for (insert name here) is a protest vote.”

Writing in the name of your favorite cartoon character or nom de guerre — we particularly like “Chris P. Bacon” and “Jim Nasium” — may seem like a simple but effective way to thumb your nose at the political establishment. In fact, it only does two things effectively: waste election officials’ time and taxpayers’ money accumulating votes that ultimately don’t get counted.

Supporting Mickey Mouse for president doesn’t put members of the Washington establishment on notice that you’re fed up. The only message these joke votes send to elected officials is that they don’t have to take seriously the voters who cast them.

n “My vote won’t count anyway. The system is rigged.”

Never has there been a more perfect self-fulfilling prophecy than this. You can’t change anything, so why even try? There. You see? Nothing changed! It would have been pointless to even try.

It’s true that there are inequities — from needed reforms to nominating processes to entrenched incumbency at all levels of government — within our system. But those are issues for another day.

If you truly believe the system is rigged, the best way to test your hypothesis is to go out and engage in the process yourself.

Either way — whether you’re voting because you believe democracy works best when it has the benefit of a large, informed and engaged electorate; or to prove to yourself the system is all a big sham — it doesn’t matter to us, so long as you participate.

Now, go forth and vote.