Should you vote? Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Hamilton's Javier Muñoz answer in song.

Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, street urchin debate whether to vote

(Image credit: Late Show)

published 8 November 2016

In his live pre-Election Day Late Show on Monday night, Stephen Colbert roped in some friends and an "adorable little street urchin" to sing-argue about whether to sit this election out. The girl kicked things off by questioning whether she should vote at all, prompting the first song from Colbert, telling her that of course she has to vote. "Mayor of Candytown" Jon Stewart stepped in to let the girl know, also in song, that "democracy is optional" and she doesn't have to vote — until, two spit-takes later, Colbert informed him that one of the people running is Donald Trump.

With Stewart on the vote train, the girl took her solo, making what Stewart later joked was a Slate-worthy "unbelievable contrarian think piece" on why sitting out an election where neither candidate shares your values is actually the brave thing to do — and just as Colbert and Stewart were about to sign off on this electoral nihilism, Hamilton's Javier Muñoz ran in to save us all from apathy. Whether or not you need a little push to go vote on Tuesday, you can watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.