The upcoming Presidential Election has taken the country by storm as candidates compete for a party nomination. With all the campaigning done over media outlets and through individuals on college campuses, it is easy to lose sight of the purpose behind the elections, which is to seek out the best possible candidate to act as the leader and face of our great nation. So as the elections near closer, here are six things to keep in mind before casting your vote!
1. Pay attention to politics.
Too often in the college world we live in, it is easy to be more focused on Greek life, academics, and the clubs we participate in than the latest presidential polls. But since we are in college to prepare ourselves for the “real world” and becoming adults, it is time we start paying more attention to politics and educating ourselves about the world outside of our college world.
2. Know the policies your preferred candidate stands for.
In the age of social media, you can just read a 140-character blip about the policy a candidate is endorsing. Tweets like “College tuition will be free” or “Illegal immigration will be ended” might sound nice, but they are not representative of full policies that will be enacted if your candidate is elected. Do your research and get all the facts.
3. Stand up for what you believe.
Everyone is different and everyone believes in different policies for different reasons. It is important in any election to stand up for what YOU believe and to choose the candidate who best reflects that.
4. Don’t just join the bandwagon.
With all the media attention on candidates such as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, it is easy to just jump on the bandwagon and say you support the most popular candidates. However, if you choose to support the most popular candidates, have a real reason to like them besides the fact that they are “republicans,” “democrats,” or just plain “cool.”
5. Keep up with current events.
Stay updated with the news about candidates. In terms of elections, new developments are constantly being made, and in order to understand your preferred candidate’s policies in context, it is important to understand why they want to make certain changes and what effect they will have.
6. Actually vote.
Regardless of what anyone says, your vote does matter. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, in the 2014-midterm elections, only 21.5 percent of individuals aged 18-29 voted. With turnout numbers that low, if enough college students vote in the upcoming election, we can make a significant difference in the outcome.
When it comes down to it, our generation is the one that will soon be leading this nation, so it is time we start paying more attention to politics and who we want leading us into our future.
