I am disappointed to learn that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has expressed publicly that she won’t be voting for either major candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

While I completely understand why, it surprises me to hear her seeming to advocate not casting a vote for president. If people don’t vote, they believe they can then claim it’s not their fault someone got elected. However, in my opinion, it is their fault.

In elections with low turnouts, the more extreme ends of the political spectrum do vote and subsequently gain power. This further increases the divide between parties. It is my opinion that people not voting in the primaries got us these two extreme candidates in the first place.

Secondly, not voting increases people’s disenfranchisement from the election system. For our country to run well, we need people to believe they have a say in government. As Sen. Collins knows, our system can work, but it does take effort. If someone doesn’t make the effort to vote, then they haven’t earned the right to complain, either.

I’ve voted for Sen. Collins every chance I have had, and I’m proud to be represented by her. While I don’t always agree with all her positions, I respect her work ethic, pragmatism and commitment to public service.

While I wish I had a presidential candidate to vote for whom I could respect as much as Sen. Collins this election, I don’t. However, on Election Day, I will do my duty as an American, hold my nose and mark a choice on my ballot.

Chris Fream

Scarborough

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