It's pretty safe to say that almost all of you reading are of voting age. In fact, for many of us, this will be the first presidential race that our voice will be heard. The reason I am slightly confused is, why are so few people our age excited?
The reason we need to care is this is that the president that will be in office when we buy our first homes, get our first "big boy" and "big girl" jobs, and possibly even starting our own families (scary, I know). There are several big reasons you need to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
1. It is a privilege and honor to vote.
As Americans, it may be difficult to conceptualize a time and a place that people do not have a right to vote and share their opinions on government decisions. But, not only is this a part of history, it still happens today around the world. Many immigrants come to this country for certain rights that many American-born citizens take for granted; voting being one of them.
2. Our generation can be the swing vote.
Today, the Millennials generation (approx. ages 18-34) has taken over the Baby Boomers, who once made up the majority of the voting population. Now it's the Millennials that are made up of 75.3 million people and can possibly swing the vote. The point is, if the college voting group takes the time to make it to the polls this next election, it can become a serious political driving force.
3. Deciding the future.
Something to emphasize in this age block is the fact that you are not just voting for the present, but for the effect the present candidates will have on the future. Sure, politics doesn't interest everyone, and it can be overwhelming at this point in the race; however, the important thing to remember is that we are at a prime time that we will first truly feel the effects of our nation's leaders.
4. Addressing student's needs.
Without a student population voting, it is difficult to see the needs of students being met in the political and government sphere. Even once you graduate, you can still feel the effects of government legislation against and for college students. It is important to be involved and be an advocate for education in this country.
5. Social agenda.
Typically in a college town, the people behave and believe in a more radical way than in other times of their lives. Protests, organizations, and fairs on campus property motivate students to make changes, speak out on issues, and form their own opinions, sometimes swaying away from their parents'. Also, with the magnitude of power that social media platforms have, and the social expertise most of the college generation has, many of the issues we so proudly voice out opinions on can come into effect if we take the initiative to vote.
In all honesty, this list is minimal compared to the true impact our generation can have on the outcome of the presidential race. Do more than just show up on election day; do your research. Watch the debates—they can actually be somewhat entertaining and bring to light many issues you may not have really spent time contemplating prior to now.
To think that a generation fresh out of high school, still figuring out who they want to be, can have such a large impact on the future of the American people. That's just one thing that makes this country the democratic powerhouse it is. The power of the people is what drives this country forward and is what sets us apart from most of the world.
Instead of binge-watching Netflix and scrolling through Facebook posts from two days ago, tune into the debates, read up on the platforms of each candidate and evaluate within yourself what you are looking for in a new president. It seems to be a daunting task, but the results of this will be outstanding.
The day that our generation takes full advantage of our political power is the day that we will start to see the changes that we all desire in our nation's leadership.
"Vote like your right to vote depends on it."
