Stop actively looking (though keep your ears open) when you have thoroughly researched two things:
First, the core issues that that could change your mind about who you’d think you should vote for. This is not about the candidates themselves.
Then, the candidates or questions on the ballot themselves. For candidates: Are they trustworthy? Where do they fall on the issues important to you? Do they implement these issues properly? Will they get things done? Are there issues they bring up that you would have included? If so, look at those issues without referencing the candidates themselves, then go over the candidates with the new issue too.
You will not know everything at the end of this. You may very well run out of time. If you do, honestly query your own state of knowledge. Even if you don’t know everything, is it enough to make an informed decision that would be better than letting it be decided by a slim majority of your fellows? (Over time, you’ll get a better sense of when this is, and not need to approach it formally.)
If it is, do it. If it isn’t, then don’t vote -there’s nothing shameful about deciding you don’t know enough yet (and start researching further in advance in the future). Voting is an important duty of citizenship, but better to not do it than do it in ways where you are likely to contribute wrongly.
Stop actively looking (though keep your ears open) when you have thoroughly researched two things:
First, the core issues that that could change your mind about who you’d think you should vote for. This is not about the candidates themselves.
Then, the candidates or questions on the ballot themselves. For candidates: Are they trustworthy? Where do they fall on the issues important to you? Do they implement these issues properly? Will they get things done? Are there issues they bring up that you would have included? If so, look at those issues without referencing the candidates themselves, then go over the candidates with the new issue too.
You will not know everything at the end of this. You may very well run out of time. If you do, honestly query your own state of knowledge. Even if you don’t know everything, is it enough to make an informed decision that would be better than letting it be decided by a slim majority of your fellows? (Over time, you’ll get a better sense of when this is, and not need to approach it formally.)
If it is, do it. If it isn’t, then don’t vote -there’s nothing shameful about deciding you don’t know enough yet (and start researching further in advance in the future). Voting is an important duty of citizenship, but better to not do it than do it in ways where you are likely to contribute wrongly.