The first time I knew my vote mattered was in 2012 -- my first ever participation in an exciting election year. Not only was it a Presidential Election but a lot of initiatives were on the table for my home state of Washington.

An initiative was introduced to the people that year -- the legality of marijuana. I voted along with many others to decriminalize pot in Washington, ultimately helping our economy and cutting down on drug arrests in our state. Though this point is controversial, and would probably send Idaho into a tailspin if such an initiative was passed here, it is an example of how much of an impact voting can have. That being said, here are some reasons why YOU should utilize your right to vote.

Reason #1: It is YOUR Constitutional right.

For the longest time, people were not allowed to vote unless they were male, white and land owners. Then, BOOM, these Amendments came into play:

15th Amendment--The right to vote is non-discriminate regarding race.
19th Amendment--The right to vote is cannot be denied on account of sex.
24th Amendment--The right to vote is free and poll taxes are prohibited
26th Amendment--The right to vote is open to those 18 years and older.

*The definitions accompanying the Amendments are paraphrased from the Constitution of the United States of America.

Reason #2: NOT everyone is given the same opportunity.

There are many societies worldwide that do not even allow their people to have certain democratic freedoms. These governments that deny people these rights often only let few, highly restrictive, groups of people to have a say in what the government does. Be grateful for those who fight for us to keep this right.Reason #3: You actually have a say in what happens to YOU.

Student loans are terrifying, people want to limit access to various health care providers, and Idaho still has liquor stores. If initiatives come up that are eligible for the people to vote on, we can change our society as we know it just by showing up at the polls! Take charge and vocalize what matters most to you! Which leads me to my next reason.

Reason #4: Not enough of US vote.

Too often people complain about government not getting stuff done. But WE can solve that problem -- Democracy only works when it is utilized. If young adults voted, our problems could be one step closer to being solved. The Nation's issues are our issues.

Reason #5: The whole "voting process" is EASY.

A big idea that our community is trying to promote and get students involved in is an online program called "TurboVote." In collaborated efforts by ASUI, the Department of Student Involvement and the Center for Volunteerism and Social Action, the members of these organizations encourage everyone to check it out because it makes the whole voting process WAY EASIER than it ever has been before. ASUI Senator McKenzie MacDonald has this to say about TurboVote:

"Basically we are trying to promote the importance of voting and civic involvement in general. I know that there are quite a few students that are not registered to vote. It can be a relatively difficult and confusing process...TurboVote gives students the opportunity to conveniently register to vote while sitting at their computer."

Reason #6: WE have the power to change society.

If we worked the system the way we are supposed to, things would get done in government and problems would be solved. We'd have the right people in office and the right kind of idealists that represent what we are as a society on Capitol Hill. Get out there and vote (actually, wait a little bit--Election Day isn't until the November)!

Relevant Links:

Interested in TurboVote?
https://turbovote.org/register

Need help navigating who to support for the 2016 Presidential Election?
https://www.isidewith.com/