Let’s be real, at the end of the day, it would take a miracle for California to go from a blue state to a red state. So if you’re like me and are voting in Cali, no matter what, your vote for the president probably won’t affect much. But if you’re thinking this is a validation for your apathy, it’s actually not. Think of this more like a call-to-action. Because even if your vote for president doesn’t count, there are still a lot of other things on the ballot.

Here in California, there are at least 15 propositions on the ballot that you can vote for, and they cover all sorts of topics that are relevant to your life. In addition, there are senators and representatives to vote for. There is so much more than just a presidential race going on. There is taxation, there are health policies, prison reform policies. There is so much to vote on that it is really such a waste for you to not get out there and vote.

Voting may seem like a hassle, but if you already registered, you’ll be fine. At my school, La Sierra University, there is s a polling station, located within walking distance. There are always people on campus urging students to register. There is not a good reason why students shouldn’t take concern in their community and go vote. Whether you are currently satisfied with your community or dissatisfied, go vote. It really matters. But I do urge you, look into the issues at stake here. Consider all sides of an argument. Get educated about the things that matter, and then go out and vote for them. Because in a world where genocides and nuclear warfare rages, on a continent where hunger and poverty are rampant, in a country where we are given the chance-- however illusory it may seem-- to make our voices heard, we can’t afford to live in apathy.