It is no surprise that the 2016 Presidential election is quickly approaching, and soon the United States of America will have a new leader. If you have heard any of the conversations around you, or if you simply have turned on the television, you will know that this race, in particular, has been a complete media magnet. News corporations are publishing stories revolving around the election every day, and social media is consistently full of political discussions. Millions of Americans, and many foreigners, as well, are discussing the candidates’ opinions, beliefs, and qualifications to be President that the media presents in these stories. There are certainly opinions presented on who is best fit to run the country, but there is also a lot of disdain and disapproval directed towards many of the candidates. As a result of this controversy and chaos, more and more people seem to be expressing the decision to simply not vote in this election.

Don’t give up your right to vote.

This is your country, and you have the right to even the tiniest say in who will lead you. If you are frustrated with any political aspect of our country, this is your time to try and elect someone who will be responsible for working towards bettering the United States of America. If you simply refuse to vote for the candidate who best represents your ideals and values, you may have to accept that the issues that you want to be resolved are not the primary focus of the candidate that is selected as our next President. While there is certainly still the possibility that your preferred candidate will ultimately not be elected, the possibility for his or her success should motivate you to try and influence the final results of the election.

If you are not voting simply because you do not know who to vote for, take a couple minutes every day to watch the debates (or recaps online, if you cannot watch them live) and to browse each candidate’s campaign pages. Take on both sides of the story -- see the way the candidates present themselves in the heat of the moment, but also explore the campaign pages and view the way these candidates want to be presented. Take note of the differences. Notice their stances on key issues and see which candidate caters more to your opinions and beliefs. Do the research you need until you can comfortably say that you understand enough about a candidate’s political stance to believe he or she can take on the significant role of President of the United States.

The future of our country, quite literally, rests in the hands of whoever wins this election. As a citizen of the United States, you have a right to impact this decision and thus, have a say in who will be granted the responsibility of carrying and representing our nation. Your vote is important and your vote matters. Head out to the polls and be heard!