The Washington Post and The New York Times have published their endorsements for the presidential election, supporting the re-election of President Barack Obama. The Des Moines Register, a major newspaper in Iowa, endorsed Gov. Mitt Romney in a state that is fiercely divided between the two candidates. The Columbus Dispatch and The Plain Dealer, two of the largest and most influential papers in Ohio, a significant battleground state, penned editorials that supported Romney and Obama, respectively. 

In line with a January editorial written by the paper’s publisher and editorial page editor, the Chicago Sun-Times will not give an opinion on which candidate to support. But 10 blocks away, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Obama.

In 2008, The Daily Illini endorsed Obama. In 2004, it endorsed Sen. John Kerry. This year, there will be no “Vote Obama” or “Vote Romney” splashed across the page in a 90-point font. 

This decision does not come easily — some members of the editorial board opposed this decision; others supported it. I, along with the majority of the board’s members, think the utility of an endorsement has passed.

Years ago, newspaper endorsements had a purpose, perhaps. Information could not be accessed with the same ease at which we scour the Internet today. This newspaper’s readers don’t just read The Daily Illini — they read many other sources, as they should. Long ago, it followed that a newspaper’s endorsement could force a voter’s hand at the polls. Today, voters largely know via their own research and political affiliation which candidate they will select before they read any newspaper endorsements.

The job of the opinions section of The Daily Illini, then, is to offer an array of perspectives on a variety of issues, which we then critique, analyze and question. Opinions help fill in the holes that objective news reporting cannot. This editorial board and this paper’s columnists take hard stances on certain issues and at times offer harsh criticism of organizations and people because we expect that you take issue with them as well. An opinions page is meant to provide you with the fuel to create your own opinions about your world, not to provide you with the singular opinion you must unquestionably take for yourself. 

We, as an editorial staff, show the implications of news stories published in The Daily Illini or papers around the world. Sometimes we’ll take decisive opinions, and other times we leave it to you to make up your mind — delivering those opinions is decided on a case-by-case basis. 

And leading up to these elections, the editorial board and the columnists provide opinions on several issues five days a week: some political, some cultural and some neither or both. You are to pick up on the opinions you want and question or reject the rest. But if what we’ve written up to this day hasn’t helped you decide on a candidate, a political endorsement certainly won’t do it either. 

More so than voters, politicians take endorsements seriously, posting them to their campaign websites and issuing press releases with them included. Effectively, the newspaper has drafted a public advertisement for them rather than enlighten a reader — and writing advertisements is not what this editorial board will do. 

As editor, I strive to offer The Daily Illini’s readers with as much diverse commentary as I can, and that information is presented to you to help you make reasoned decisions when you contribute to an informed debate of issues important to you. 

Political endorsements, like those for public offices like U.S. senator or county clerk, do not serve that purpose.  

Should other newspapers stop the age-old practice of endorsing candidates? I can’t say — I don’t know firsthand their readership. Some papers, like The New York Times, spent months on the decision, possibly using the endorsement as the culmination of months or years of opinion writing. In battleground states like Florida or Ohio, diverse opinion of political endorsements may serve a more significant purpose, where public opinion is closely divided between the candidates. But gauging this paper’s readership, I can say that such an endorsement is not necessary or appropriate. 

Some have argued that an editorial advocating support for a candidate emphasizes everyone’s right to vote — to make a decision. But not doing so does the same. I believe it says that we have confidence in your ability to decide for yourself.   

So vote on what you know and what you can uncover over the next seven days, even using this guide. 

In 2012, I will endorse you and your vote, the only opinion that matters in the end. 

With intellect, passion and hope, head to the polls and vote.

Ryan is a junior in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected].