We all say that we’re going to vote in the next election, but how many of us actually do so?

In a Huffington Post article, I found that in 2012, about just two-thirds of Americans voted. I find this alarming considering that studies have shown that a very low number of young people (18-25 year olds) are actually voting. The absence of voters allows things to continue without the voice of these Americans. Basically, if you don’t use your constitutional right to vote, you don’t get a say in the way this country is run. All in all, I have taken advantage of my constitutional right to vote, and I have registered for this upcoming presidential election. I believe you should too.

At this very moment, you may not be able to vote. You might have already missed your state’s deadline to register (for my Hoosiers, sadly, you’ve already missed the deadline), or you might not be 18 quite yet. But here’s a link tell you when your state’s deadline is to register for the presidential election this year. And for those of you that did miss the due date, now you know for next time.

I’ve found that, though I’m able to vote this year, I’m still not too politically active right now, and that’s OK. The main issue here is that I will be informed on who I think is the right decision when it comes to actually voting in November. And it’s even kind of weird because I’ve had Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and (almost) Ted Cruz come to a city within an hour away, all in the last month! I didn’t even attend these events, but mostly because I didn’t know they were even going to be happening. But, like I said, that part doesn’t really matter. What really matters is that I will be fully educated and informed by the time I go to vote.

Here’s to you 18-25 year olds: You have the most impact. This country will soon be ours, and we must seize it. We must know who we want leading our country on the right path. And since our thoughts and ideas are so different than those before us, we must speak our minds and stand up for what we believe in.

Mostly, I’m just here to say to you: Please utilize your right to vote and vote in this next election.