If you are anything like me, the 2016 election cycle has been, in one word, mind-blowing. But, it has also been embarrassing. As November quickly approaches, the major parties have nominated candidates that make me question whether or not I should exercise my right to vote this cycle. But since it is an election year, the topic of conversation is often shifted towards the impending decision. I only have one thing to ask: please do not ask me who I am voting for.

Please do not ask me who I am voting for because first of all, it is none of your business.

When you go to a polling place, you walk behind a closed curtain so no one else can see whose name you choose. There are security measures in place to protect your decision because they are solely your opinions.

Please do not ask me who I am voting for because if I answer, you will assume I am a member of their party. I identify as an Independent Party member because neither the Republican or Democratic Parties' ideals align exactly with my own. In a voting situation, I will put my vote behind the person who I feel will most accurately portray my ideals through their policy.

Please do not ask me who I am voting for because I am not looking to start a debate. I have my own political opinions that I will share in situations I feel comfortable doing so in. These situations include times like my Government and Politics class, and around my grandparents' table with my extended family. These situations do not include standing in a long line in public, or while I am on duty at work.

Please do not ask me who I am voting for because at this moment, I am very unsure. It is only August, which means I still have months to decide which name I shall put on my ballot. There is still much campaigning left, and there is plenty of time for one of our two major candidates to say something that will cause me to support one over the other.

Please do not ask me if I have considered voting third party due to my reluctance towards the major party candidates. I am aware of many third parties, but feel that casting my vote for one would be a waste of my vote due to how the electoral college system operates. I feel that by supporting a third party candidate, I would only be taking away votes from the major parties and dividing them further. By voting third party, I am still only swaying the decision between the two major parties.

Yes, it is an election year. An election year at the end of what has been a very long and drawn out cycle. Yes I will be voting for the first time. And yes, I did see what _______ candidate said on TV last night. You may ask me all of those things: but please do not ask me who I am voting for in November.