I think we can all agree that this election cycle is unconventional. But, that does not mean you should disregard it. I have a lot of friends who have been incredibly involved in the political process this election. Yet, I am discouraged by the mass number of people I have heard say "I am not voting." The idea that "my vote does not count" is inaccurate and we need to realize the power we have by voting. Our nation was founded because we wanted representation, and that can only occur by voting. Policies affect our everyday lives, we are not only voting for the President but local officials.
Look, I understand that to some people neither candidate is appealing. But, on November 8th we are not just voting for our President. We are voting for the officials in our district, those officials are responsible for the changes made to our towns. Voting this election day can determine your local school's budgets, local taxes, and public infrastructure. The President is an important position, but those policies do not affect us every single day. The policies that will affect us every single day are those policies decided by our local elected officials.
We all need to account for the fact that many of us did not have the right to vote at one point in history. As a woman, I personally feel it is my responsibility to vote. Women before me fought hard for suffrage and I will not disregard all their efforts. As a nation comprised of all different ethnicities, with many of us having immigrant roots, we are fortunate to live in this country. We need to vote to continue the tradition of the United States being a nation that is comprised of a diverse population.
One of the candidates will appeal to you when you look at policy. We need to stop looking at twitter, facebook trends, and look at the hard evidence. Look up each candidates policies and see which ones would either benefit or harm you. If you feel that neither candidates' policies benefit you. there is always third parties. We also forget that you do not have to vote for the President, but you can just vote for your local officials.
This election personally affects me because I will be looking for a job during the presidency. The policies that they discuss will affect me, as I will be paying taxes during the presidency. I am a college student, like many of us, student loans are a priority to us. I want a thriving economy and healthy foreign relations. I hope to see aid provided to areas such as Aleppo who are suffering right now. My vote will be based on whose policies will follow these ideas. I am not voting for who I like or who I think would be fun to get a drink with. The President is someone who needs to have strong policies and will help our nation continue to thrive.
Election day is November 8th, 2016 and I hope we will all go out there to vote. Millenials make up a large portion of the voter pool, and we can make a difference. Every single vote matters, and we can not be foolish and throw our votes away because we are frustrated with this election.
