After recently turning eighteen years old, I'm finally able to vote in arguably one of the biggest and most high-profile elections in American history — and I don't understand why people aren't voting.

Let me start by saying, this is not to sway your opinion to match mine or complain about how "bigly" this election has sucked. Sure, there have been ups and downs, however, this is not to share who I will be voting for or my opinions on the candidates.

Now that's out of the way, why isn't everyone voting? I may be eager to play my part as active citizen due to the fact that this is the first major election I can vote in, however, I have friends my own age who aren't even voting. When I heard this I was surprised.

Why? Don't you want a say in what happens? You have the right to vote and choose who runs our country; Why aren't you taking advantage of it? The answer to most of these questions was the same, "I don't believe in either one, if I vote it will be my fault when they screw up."

Holy crap, what? Okay, I guess I may see the point. Have you watched the debates — other than just for a drinking game — or do you just generally not care?

Voting is a right that so many people in this world still do not have. It is a right we have fought for, some of your great-grandparents didn't even have these opportunities at your age. The Fifteenth Amendment allowing African-American men to vote, the nineteenth allowing women to vote, the twenty-fourth which dropped voting taxes, and the twenty-sixth allowing anyone 18 or older to vote. Along with seven federal laws regarding citizens' rights to vote.

If you don't think you believe in what the candidates stand for, guess again. There's plenty of information online to help you; articles, poll data, and various websites. My favorite is https://www.isidewith.com This site will compare your views directly with the candidates and help you decide which is the best — and the guys who created it aren't being sponsored by any party!

If you're not home the day of the elections, you can vote early or vote by mail or fax via absentee. There are other options to cast your vote and choice in how our country is run.This election is extremely important for our generation on so many different levels. Millennials are the future; who we pick will decide our future. It's time to make a decision for ourselves reguarding the future of the country we live in. Please take the time to exercise your right to vote and participate in this election.