As has been made obvious from countless Facebook posts, increased polarization of opposing viewpoints, and news stories unending, it is election season in America. This presidential election has seen both sides - Republican and Democrat - make some major shifts and changes to how they go about operating. The American people are ready for change, and the call has been heard by those promising to bring it.

But, in order for that change to be acted on, there’s the obvious necessity of voters making it out to the polls to actually vote. This appears to be a challenging task for the millennial generation in years past. According to the Pew Research Center, of the millennials eligible to vote in the last three elections, only 46 percent did in 2004, 50 percent in 2008 and 46 percent in 2012. Compare those numbers to the Baby Boomer generation who have had a 69 percent voter turnout each of those three election years.

Voter turnout is a problem for young people in America. Young people just aren’t acting on the ability to vote as readily as older folks.

A large part of the reason could stem from the lack of education younger demographics have received on absentee ballots, a tool that could prove helpful. Many millennials are also students away from home at college. Leaving school to commute back home to vote can be difficult with class schedules and the proximity students are to their registered address.

I, for example, have a permeant address in Michigan but attend school in Washington state.

This is where the use of absentee ballots is huge in helping us young people fulfill our role in the democratic process. Vote.org can help you get on track to filling out and submitting an absentee ballot.

With such low numbers at the polls, the millennial generation could just need the extra knowledge of how to get involved in the voting process to have their voices heard.

Posting articles on Facebook can be informative, but until we actually find ways to cast our votes, we won't help pave the political climate we’re hoping for. Places like vote.com and simple dialogue with your university can help point you in the right direction to turn those articles shared on Facebook into actual votes.