As a high school senior during COVID-19, I was old enough to participate in the 2020 presidential election. As much as I was excited to be able to exert my right and power as an American citizen, I was also worried that choosing the wrong candidate could bring about the nation’s downfall. I was surprised to realize that making the right choice was more of a learning-intensive process than I had originally thought. The terms that are used in the political setting were not used in the ways that I assumed, and I was swayed by different things that others would tell me. Eventually, I realized that I did not agree or disagree with everything both parties claimed. The unusual state of the pandemic brought up new political questions and shifted areas of priority. Choosing the right president is easier said than done and goes beyond whether the candidate is a Democrat or a Republican.

The primary step to voting wisely is to know the exact meanings of key political terms. Liberal politics prioritize protecting and enhancing the freedom of individuals. Liberals believe that the government should take an active role in protecting its people from poverty and illness and providing safety and protection even if it sets restrictions on the individual’s freedom. Conservatism, on the other hand, emphasizes that the government’s responsibility is to serve, not to dominate, while following the pre-established rules of society rather than creating new ones. Conservatives believe in a small government where they merely provide defense and safety while leaving everything else to the public. Left-wingers are hostile to the interests of traditional elites and favor the interests of the working class, with the extreme forms being socialism and communism. Right-wingers support authority, tradition and property, holding on to conservative views with the extreme form being fascism. Libertarians desire the expansion of individual autonomy and political freedom, emphasizing the principles of equality before the law and protection of civil rights. Authoritarianism refers to a blind compliance to authority and the suppression of freedom of thought and action. Knowing the exact meanings and beliefs that accompany each political ideology helps us come to a general understanding of what each candidate has to offer.

Next you must understand the process of the election. In the beginning, candidates from both parties participate in a televised debate where they defend their claims and refute those of others. After that, primaries and caucuses are held for candidates to travel the country to eventually get selected by their political party. The national convention is held to make a final decision on the nominee and to select a vice presidential nominee. After that, people in every state vote for one presidential and vice presidential candidate and the electors at the Electoral College cast one vote following the general election. The candidate who gets more than half wins. Knowing the structure of the presidential election helps us understand how each candidate is selected, what to expect and how to get the necessary information.

You should have a clear understanding of your political standing and what you expect from governmental authorities. Every person’s values and priorities are different based on one’s circumstances, and we may not always agree with the party we support. With this in mind, it is crucial that one has the ability to escape the frame of political parties and personal biases based on how they are portrayed by the media and focus instead on what policies and commitments each individual candidate makes about the various areas—defense, education, healthcare, taxes and others—that are important to you. Rather than passively following what others think or have taught you, you must focus on your own circumstances and needs and use your judgment to establish what you agree and disagree with from each candidate. Utilizing resources such as The Political Compass can help you see where each candidate stands. How far each candidate is from your own values can help determine which issues and policies you prioritize and who can best help you in the long run. You would be surprised to see how close president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump actually are on the spectrum in 2020.

Gather the appropriate resources. Throughout the election year, presidential candidates make numerous media appearances as a part of their campaign to present what they can offer to the country. However, not all the content should influence you. Not everything that is delivered through the media is correct. In fact, some media outlets intend to leave negative impressions of their opponents by rumormongering, guilt by association, catchwords and name-calling. One must avoid making the mistake of letting the political party or external factors, such as their personal life, determine whether a candidate is appropriate for the job. When doing your research, be wary of where you get your information, whether the source is biased and whether the information given is relevant to the topic. One must do research on the candidate’s past experience, accomplishments and failures to evaluate whether the candidate has the ability to handle the responsibility that accompanies the role. Consider the candidate’s ability and personal values.

You should focus on the message and not the messenger. Research has proven that external factors such as appearance play a huge role in determining one’s voting preferences, and we do not have control of this tendency. Also, there are multiple rhetorical and nonverbal devices such as tone, word choices, attire, posture, speaker-audience interaction and demeanor that are incorporated into a candidate’s media appearance so they can appeal more to the audience and garner more public attention. Focusing too much on factors outside of the political agenda can lead to misperceptions and misunderstandings of whom you intend to give the power to rule the nation. To avoid this situation, focus on the word-for-word content in the speech and message and what they mean to you rather than getting swayed by the emotional appeals.

After all the researching and evaluating is done, only the most important step is left: casting the vote. As Plato said, “One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” However, it is important to do it the right way.