It's an election year, and many of us young people have been eagerly waiting our whole lives for the year in which we have the opportunity to finally cast a ballot. For me, I've been over the legal voting age for two years, and it feels incredible to be able to feel like I have power in my voice since I can physically cast a vote. However, despite the amount of millennials I see excited about voting and informed about politics, there are many others who don't feel the need to vote, especially during this particular election. When I've asked them why, some feel as if they're choosing between the "lesser of two evils," a phrase that I've heard over and over again this election season. Others give me the classic answer of "my vote doesn't matter," or "one lost vote won't make any difference." The problem with this mindset is not only, of course, that every vote does matter, but more importantly that the voice of the millennials especially this election, is so important.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, millennials have surpassed the baby boomers as the nation's largest living generation. That is huge. That means that we are a significant percentage of the nation's population. A 2014 Pew Research Center report states that 40 percent of the millennial generation is non-white due to the large wave of Hispanic and Asian immigrants entering the U.S. over the last half century. The diversity that our generation has will be vital to this year's election in voicing the opinions and needs of people of color; perhaps even more so this year following the numerous tragic and brutal events of attacks on black Americans over the last few years and with the Black Lives Matter movement.
In addition, many of the social and economical issues that politicians are facing are directly correlated to the millennial generation, and will affect us greatly depending on the decisions of the next president. For example, the long-argued principle of a more available, cheaper higher education is absolutely a millennial problem, seeing as many people between the ages of 18-34 are currently attending or soon to attend college, and the financial debt that will come with that is mounting higher and higher every year. Many millennials are also involved in the third-wave feminist movement and identify as LGBTQ+. Issues such as women's health rights and marriage equality are both obviously related to those two things, and are vitally important to many young people. Finally, the issues surrounding immigration and how strict our rules should be about letting refugees into our country is an extremely hot button topic right now. The voices of millennials (many who come from immigrant families) are more important than ever over this issue.
It's no secret that we're not entirely a democracy; there are a number of serious issues with our country's political parties and makeup, and of course these need to be addressed and fought against. However, in any election, and especially in this election, not voting at all is the worst decision you could make. Not voting is virtually the same as voting for the worst candidate in your mind, for the one candidate that you don't want to become president (who may or may not rhyme with Tonald Drump). It will kill me to see young people with crucial opinions throw away their votes.
The best way to fight the system that oppresses you is to act. Do what you can to make some kind of difference, to put some effort into a better future. Millennials have unfortunately been deemed by other generations as "lazy" or "entitled," both of which are extremely untrue. Our generation is strong, unafraid, and the voice of a number of minorities. We need to speak out this election season. Let your voice be heard. Go out and vote.
