Ja(y)den D. Harper -Author Collective

The prompt today asks, “Do you vote in political elections?”
And it’s a fair question — but not a simple one.

At Ja(y)Den D. HarPer, we’re a collective of builders, teachers, engineers — not politicians. None of us sit around debating policy or waving flags. Honestly? We’re not big fans of any political camp. Most days, it feels less like choosing who leads us, and more like picking which version of disappointment stings less.

But we do think about systems. About structures. About the why behind decisions, not just the headlines.

Voting might be one of the last rituals we have that asks us to believe — even just a little — that our input matters. That a mark on a page or a tap on a screen can shift something larger than ourselves. But belief is hard when the system doesn’t seem built for you.

So here’s what we do care about:

• That you question things.
• That you think critically about who profits from your silence.
• That you realize power isn’t just in government buildings — it’s in classrooms, community centers, codebases, and kitchen tables.
• That if you do vote, it’s with open eyes and a sharp pen.

Maybe voting is a tool. Maybe it’s a symbol. Maybe it’s just a checkbox.
But whatever it is, it should come with thought — not pressure.

So instead of asking “Do you vote?” — maybe the better question is:

What would make you believe your voice actually matters?

— Per (on behalf of the Ja(y)Den D. HarPer crew)