The 2016 presidential election is the first election that I am of age to vote in, and of course, I will exercise my constitutional right to vote. It's funny to think I was asking my parents whom they were voting for not so long ago, and now they're asking me the same question. I have found that I personally have been paying a little bit more attention to what is going on in this race more than any other.
For one thing, this election is all over social media. I mean, there has always been a part of social media that was politically driven, but when an election comes around that part kicks into overdrive. You see people taking the time to voice their opinions online through writing, videos or something like this:
I'm not saying that social media wasn't just as big as it was in 2012. I just think that since I'm older, I'm starting to notice a lot more of the political side of it. When I was younger, like a freshman or a sophomore, politics made me feel uncomfortable so I tried to avoid any mention of it. Of course, now that I'm older and a little bit wiser, I see it all.
Knowing that you will be voting for the first time on such a big scale can be a little bit intimidating, so I understand why some young people might postpone voting until the next election. It's someone's decision as to whether or not they want to vote. It's just that maybe it might not be the best idea to skip it. Think of it like this: you are in the first grade and your teacher says that she is going to bring cupcakes in tomorrow for the class. She asks everyone to vote whether they want chocolate or vanilla. She also gives each person in the class a chance to pass if they don't care either way. You decide to pass and the next day she brings in chocolate cupcakes. You get mad and say that you don't like chocolate. Your teacher then tells you that since you didn't vote, you had no say in the matter. Therefore, you are left hungry and regretting not taking the time to make an important decision.
This election has definitely had some undeniably crazy moments, but I also think that it has several enlightening moments as well. You start to form opinions about topics that you know you would not have had opinions about two or three years ago.
Regardless of what party you're in, whether it be Republican, Democratic, Independent, or any other, I hope that everyone - young and old - will take the time to just get out and vote. That way, no one has to be that kid who decided to pass on voting for cupcakes and ended up with a flavor they didn't like.
