Essay: WHAT IF YOU DON'T VOTE?

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Neither Nixon nor Humphrey looks very much like a presidential hero, yet both do offer a clear choice between styles and temperaments—a significant choice in itself—plus more experience for the White House than dozens of candidates before them. Voters who still yawn might consider that 1) any sizable nonvote could deprive the winner of the clear mandate that he will need to govern effectively; and 2) George Wallace is contending for a job that gives to one man global power over nuclear life and death.

Not vote in 1968? Millions of foreigners would gladly take any nonvoting American's place at the polls. A mere 2% of the world's population is about to elect a President whose every move can deeply affect the other 98%. If that fact imposes no moral duty on Americans to vote, and vote wisely, what does?