Election Anxiety: Fearing the Future

Our country is nearing towards its elections. After 5 days, we’ll be able to change our president, vice president and senators. The elections is only for a day. Citizens will fill up their ballots and go home. It’s such a simple event.

But, why is it so important?

Elections are more than just shading ballots. The election is a chance for a new administration, a new government. It is our way to change our future.

It is the peak of our freedom as a citizen of our democratic country to choose the people who will serve us. By exercising our right to vote, we’ll create a future better than what others have imagined.

What people think of the election

Some of us might not be thinking too much about the elections. It might be because they’re apolitical. They don’t really have to care about politics because they wouldn’t be affected. They are privileged enough to live the same even when corrupt officials get seated.

But, there are some who doesn’t care simply because they think it’s already hopeless. So many leaders have been elected, carrying their promises but never fulfilling them. These citizens who trusted these leaders have been betrayed so many times that they stopped depending on elections. For them, everything would be the same. Poverty will still pull them down.

Yet, there are those who sees hope in the upcoming elections. They see the elections as a light at the end of the dark tunnel. And, it is understandable why they feel this way. Promising leaders with the best qualifications have joined the race. It would really be a waste not to give them the chance to change our country for the better.

What a lot of people did for the election

Many of us, especially the youth who aspires for a bright future, have moved mountains just to make sure the elections will not be another door for corrupt officials to enter. I know so many people who went beyond.

They did their own research

They did their best to know their candidates, researching all their credentials, issues and track record just to determine whether they fit the high standards appropriate for a president, vice president and senators.

They spread the information they knew

Infographics, sentimental posts and even memes filled up my social media feed for the past month, all for the sake of disseminating true information about the candidates to make people aware.

They encourage others to choose based on facts and morals

Social media and even personal campaigning just to help others choose the right people were done by the youth. They went great lengths just to make sure that their fellow youths and the adults they learn from help them build the future they deserve.

What elections make us feel

All the efforts many of us have done are proof that we are desperate for a new government. These efforts should make us proud of ourselves, knowing that we have truly proven our love for the country.

Yet, our great efforts can be wasted. There is the fear that the lengths we went to would not be enough.

The fact that we have done so much makes us more anxious of the results. We’re scared that no matter how much effort we have exerted, the enemy can just trample it down.

I’ve seen a lot of my friends having “election anxiety”. And I can understand why they feel that.

There is a big chance that the elections would be manipulated by the evil who has the power and greed to do so. There is a big chance that the undecided will opt for the selfish and liars.

The future is at stake and we can’t help but fear that what awaits us is another dark path.

Yet, I wish that our hope would not be dimmed. Let us trust our efforts and let us trust our fellow citizens who also wish for a great country.

Let us also remind ourselves that the elections isn’t the end, but just the beginning. It would really be delightful to elect the best candidate. But, whoever is elected, we still have the power to shape our future.

It would be our job after this election to see how the new officials would do. It is our right to criticize them, help them make decisions that will benefit us.

There is still so much to do, even after elections.

Lead image edited in Canva.