Elections seldom provide perfect choices between good and evil. The first step toward informed voting lies in determining your own personal preferences as the to public problems you are most concerned with and the solutions you prefer. Above and beyond shared preferences, informed voters look at the personal characteristics of candidates to help determine how they will perform in office. We usually prefer candidates who are hard working, honest, moral and skillful since we are entrusting them with decisions that affect our futures. Sorting out the information about candidates from their speeches, campaign ads, media coverage and Web sites is one of the real challenges to citizens in a democracy.
Many voters use short cut aids, such as relying on a candidate's political party label.
Candidates for more important offices have usually served in previous positions, making it possible to assess their policy preferences and capabilities. Talking with friends and relatives about politics helps define one's own outlooks and understand the available options. Many young people feel closer to the political party chosen by their parents. This can make a lot of sense since parents and children often have similar political needs and policy preferences. A first step might be to talk to your parents and have them explain why they are Democrats or Republicans.