In case you have somehow been able to remain oblivious through the entirety of 2016 so far, and most of 2015, it’s election season. This election is special; it is unique in that young people know both candidates very well. In previous elections, the candidates were known to few, and so all people knew about them was the information they provided during their election season. With Donald Trump, well-known-business-mogul-turned-television-personality-turned-politician, and Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state, former first lady and second-time presidential candidate, the candidates are not strangers. A lot of first-time voters in this election, the youngest in the voting population, are apprehensive to vote. Abstaining from voting is, for lack of a better word, dumb. Here’s why.

1. You are lucky to be able to vote at all.

For a long time, voting in America was very limited. In fact, it was so limited that most of the people didn’t even have the right. Now every (non-incarcerated) citizen has the right to vote. Sufragettes and civil rights activists would not be pleased to hear that after all their hard work, people are abstaining from voting. Additionally, some countries, right now, don’t allow their citizens the right to vote. Even in America, there are people who have been trying to obtain citizenship for decades an they can’t vote. You don’t know how privileged you are to have the right to vote. Exercise that right.

2. Abstaining doesn’t do anything.

In this election we are faced with two larger than life figures in the spotlight. Some people don’t like either of them. Some people dislike all of the candidates, including ones from other parties. That happens every election. In this one a lot of those people don’t want to vote because of their dislike for all candidates. Not casting a vote is not the same as voting “none of the above” (not an option at this time, although it should be, but I digress). When you don’t vote you just don’t give yourself a say and the election goes on without you.

3. Voting is your opportunity to use your voice.

Unless you are a politician yourself, an avid protester or an immediate family member of a government worker, it is hard to get your opinion across. Voting is an easy way for all Americans to say “Hey! This is what I think!” There are not a lot of opportunities to do that. A lot of the time elected officials make decisions on our behalf. Voting is one of the only opportunities you have to express what you want. And if you take advantage of that opportunity and elect someone whose values coincide with yours, then the decisions made on your behalf will be in your favor.

4. For democracy.

The founding fathers and so many others (who are not named in your history books) fought and were willing to die for independence. They would give up their lives for democracy. Since the founding fathers, others have gotten to the point of willing to give up their lives for the improvement of our democratic system. Democracy is a good system and we are lucky to have it here. High voter turnout means people participating in democracy. And people participating in democracy means it can prevail.

5. For yourself.

When you are finally old enough to use your voice and your right to benefit yourself, you should. Vote for someone whose policies will be in your favor. Most people vote with only themselves in mind: Which candidate will make life better for them? This is completely understandable. Obviously people will vote for someone whose values are the same as theirs. No one is going to vote with you in mind. No one is going to vote for a politician that will benefit you the most. No one is voting to help you out. Only you can vote on behalf of yourself. Only you can make the election be in your favor.