The 2016 presidential election will be the first major election that I am old enough to vote in. And I am so excited to be able to exercise that right, and the privilege and responsibility that it entails.
Currently, less than half of Americans that are eligible to vote actually cast their ballot. This is due to a myriad of reasons; voter apathy, or even just sheer laziness.
Voting matters. Your vote specifically matters. It may seem insubstantial and insignificant, but that is far from true. The ability to vote is a gift - one many have dedicated their lives to, fought for, and even died for in order to ensure democracy. It is also a responsibility. The American public is entrusted with the care and keeping of their own nation, and have the responsibility of electing the best possible steward to be president.
The argument can be made that due to the electoral college, individual votes don't matter. If everyone thought that or acted on that belief, then no one would vote. And, contrary to popular belief, every vote counts. In some close elections, decisions have been made based on one or two ballots. Your voice matters in our system.
More importantly, everyone should vote. Voting for a certain candidate and their political platform is a way to share your opinion on how our country should be run. It is a way to provide your opinion on what the federal government is doing, what it could do better , and what to change. It is a way to influence policy and effect the decisions that are made for our country.
I want to have a say in what happens in my country and my future. My vote may not seem like it counts for much, but it absolutely matters. One voice is hard to hear, but when added to thousands of others it becomes impossible to ignore. One vote on its own may appear insignificant, but when added to others it becomes a force to be reckoned with.
Voting is a right we have as free Americans and a privilege everywhere. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, " our lives begin to end the day that we become silent about the things that matter." Your voice may be small, but it is still important. So use your voice this election year, and stand up for what you believe in.
