THERE are two ways to decide the government in the next general election. One is to vote for either the coalition or parties of your choice. The other is to not vote at all.

Going to the polling station and casting your vote in the ballot box is the best way to beat an insidious campaign in social media circles that says it is pointless to vote as all parties are not up to mark.

The reality is, only the citizen or the voter can decide who is up to mark or make the parties improve to get your vote. That depends on their policies, political philosophies and the politicians they choose to stand for election.

Listening to the naysayers, the ones who say it is fine to skip an election or two, means only one thing – others decide your government for you, but you still live with the consequences.

We do not have to go far to see such consequences. The Brexit referendum comes to mind. The young did not go out to vote enough, while older voters with a rose-tinted view of British sovereignty decided for the country.

The UK is still grappling with the consequences of that referendum – much to the chagrin of voters and dismay of European Commission officials who believe the British are making a huge mistake.

That is the UK. In the US, Donald Trump became president by scoring well in states that provide more electoral college votes compared with Hillary Clinton. He won, she lost from the strategic campaigning.

The same can happen in Malaysia. Yesterday’s Court of Appeal ruling that the Election Commission (EC) can continue with a controversial redrawing of parliamentary and state seat boundaries means that the voter’s ballot is all the more crucial.

Why?

Opponents of the redelineation process say it does not address an imbalanced distribution of voters, instead, shoving opposition-inclined voters into opposition-held seats to create super-constituencies and also reshaping constituencies to have more distinct ethnic majorities.

Some call it gerrymandering, but the government has consistently denied the charge, saying the EC is independent.

The EC is seeking to redraw boundaries for more than 120 parliamentary seats, more than half of the 222 seats in total. The electoral boundaries were last changed nationwide in 2003.

As it is, those promoting voter registration point to a lack of numbers over the past few months, with a few million still yet to register and claim their rights as citizens.

These unregistered voters, new electoral boundaries and a campaign to spoil your vote will only ensure that very few will vote and decide the government of the day – no matter which coalition you support.

No administration or life-changing decision such as Brexit should be decided by the very few. Instead, those who have registered to vote must cherish their rights and cast their ballot on polling day.

Malaysia needs a government decided by the majority in every polling district, and it needs citizens who exercise their rights, and keep the government accountable for all its policies, promises and action.

So please, go and vote. – December 19, 2017.