Want to Donate Your Vote? [PHIL-OSOPHY]

How many times have you heard it?

"Politicians lie all the time." "They'll tell you anything you want to hear to get elected."

You know the routine. Interestingly, according to a 2012 study, 24 percent of the voting-eligible population is not registered to vote, equaling about 51 million U.S. citizens. In 2018, 53 percent of the citizen-age population voted, and that was the highest midterm turn out in 40 years, while the 2014 election had the lowest.

We'll see how the 2020 presidential election turns out, but I'm curious to know, if you're registered to vote but don't bother to, would you consider donating your vote? That's right, donating your vote to someone who'd be grateful. Think about it, your vote is totally wasted if you don't use it. But by donating it, you're empowering someone else.

There's a program called Donate Your Vote that connects you with people who are incarcerated and can't vote. If you don't think your vote carries much relevance, you can surely bring freedom from doubt to someone incarcerated by donating it, while bringing new worth to your vote. Back in 2000, a ballot initiative removed a prisoners' right to vote.

Donate Your Vote teams you up with a person in prison with the understanding that you agree to vote for whomever the incarcerated party chooses.

Don't misinterpret the topic. I'm not advocating for or against the incarcerated population. I'm just intrigued whether or not you'd be willing to do something like this with the power of your vote? If my vote was being squandered, I would.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.