The 2016 election is right around the corner, and it's certainly one everyone will remember. In only a few days, the entire country will vote and choose the next President of the United States. For a lot of the people reading this, this is probably the first election you have ever been able to vote in. It's a brand new responsibility that comes with a big choice.

It's is a difficult election; Hilary could be a crooked liar like everyone says, but who could be worse than Trump, right? Voting third party may seem like a good decision if you really can't choose between the "lesser of two evils", however this is the wrong election to cast a protest vote.

Unfortunately, it has become a great reality that Donald Trump could become the next leader of our country. If you are completely against voting for Trump, you are only left with the options of voting for Hilary, Third Party, or not voting at all. 10-20% of voters are undecided and currently a swing of 1-2% of the votes could decide the entire election. When third party votes are counted, Hilary's polls always drop, meaning voting third party is basically like handing your vote over to Trump. A "protest vote" is only protesting one candidate, and since it's clear that no third party candidate will win, it's only improving Trump's numbers. Even Bernie Sanders has agreed that "the issues facing the U.S. are too dire for a 'protest vote.'"

Here are the facts if Trump becomes president: he doesn't want to, or know how, to fix the economy, he will build an "impenetrable" wall on the Southern border on day one (that he plans on making Mexico pay for), he wants to triple Immigration and Customs enforcement and increase overall immigration reform on day one (which would cost us $32.7 billion over the next 5 years), he will cut taxes for Planned Parenthood (an organization that not only helps women with safe abortions but also helps treat STD's, UTI's, and even gives cancer screenings), and punish women who seek out abortion, and plans on shutting down Muslims entering the United States. And that's only the beginning.

If you really can't stand to vote for either candidate, I respect that. But please take advantage of your right to vote. You have a say in what will happen to the future of this country, take the responsibility seriously. People will continue to stand up for him, support him, and vote for him.

Although this is the first election I, too, get the chance to vote in, I am still in complete shock about how long this has gone on. How is it that we can have a man say such vulgar things about women and get away with it? How can we have a man be supported by so many people after saying such racist and slandering remarks? A man who has bragged and gotten away with these hateful words by claiming that it's just "locker room talk", that boys will always be boys. I am afraid of what will happen to this country if we elect a man like this, and I think people who are voting third party or aren't voting at all should be too.

I can't stand idly by and listen to people compare Clinton to Donald and say they're "equally as bad". They're not. I'm not trying to shove my opinion or my preferred candidate down your throat, I'm only asking for people to take their vote seriously. Exercise your right to choose who will run this country; know who you are casting your vote for and know how the country is going to be affected because of it.