Hey Alex!

I voted! I have a coworker who constantly talks politics with me but we have VERY differing views. He doesn’t know it because I usually just listen to him and nod politely and act like I am on the fence about a lot of issues. To me, it’s not worth arguing over. I know he is going to ask me who I ended up voting for and I know if I told him the truth, he would probably not speak to me anymore. What should I do? I don’t want to lie to the guy just to keep the peace.

Sincerely,

Uncomfortable

Hey Uncomfortable!

There is a reason that you go into the poll booth alone and privately vote the way that you feel is best. I have yet to see a precinct in America where one just walks in and publicly shouts their favorite candidate in front of the crowd to cast their vote. The reason is so that you can vote the way you feel without being pressured by outside influences. 

Unfortunately, people seem to have forgotten this. It is now the norm to pressure your friends and family politically via conversation or social media and what’s worse is knowing that there is no longer tolerance from the masses for opposing views.

You don’t need to lie to your coworker. The fact of the matter is that who you voted for is not his or anyone else’s business. Just simply tell him, “I’d rather not say” and give a smile. Let him interpret that however he feels. If he keeps pressuring you for an answer, firmly but kindly let him know that you really don’t want to share because you don’t want to ruin any of your relationships at work over politics.

You are correct in valuing a personal relationship over politics because while politics and policy affect all of our lives, at the end of the day our personal relationships offer us the true support we need to make it through life.

Sincerely,

Alex

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