By: Kylan Watson

(Disclaimer: The views shared in this article, are the view points of the writer.)

Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who made headlines over the summer, by not standing for the national anthem, did not vote during the election last week. Kaepernick decided to use his platform to not vote, because he did not believe anything would change with the election of either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

Some people may agree with Kaepernick, but Kaepernick decided to be a part of the 45.6% of American citizens who did not vote last Tuesday. Kaepernick is arguably one of the more famous people that are amongst this group of people. However, Kaepernick cannot claim that he wants to change the system and then not to do one of the most basic things to change the system by voting.  Kaepernick did not have to vote for the top of the ticket, he could have voted in the local elections that would affect the San Francisco community. Kaepernick decided to not only protest the national anthem, but protest voting as well.

Kaepernick’s kneeling started a movement amongst his fellow athletes and amongst the average citizen. However, by not voting Kaepernick may have started a new movement. What Kaepernick fails to understand is the only way to really change something is to do it from the inside out. Voting is essential to changing this country; Kaepernick should have done as much research into all of the candidates on the ballot last week, as he did into his protest of the national anthem. Kaepernick by not voting lost his right to complain, you can’t complain about a bad system, while failing to participate in a fundamental exercise that would change that system.  By not voting Kaepernick not only used his platform improperly, but he may have started a negative movement against voting.