Election Day is finally here!

It feels as though this year's presidential race has been going on forever, but it is almost over. November 8 is upon us and while some Americans have voted early, sent in an absentee ballot or will be rushing to the polls on Tuesday, our voices will officially be counted and heard. We will decide if Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump should be in the highest office in the land, and the pressure has been building for months now.

However, when you are casting your ballot, you aren't just voting for president. You are voting for your senators, judges, school board members, congressmen and amendments. Many people lose sight of this since the media only truly covers Trump's comments and Hillary's emails. In fact, these people matter just as much, if not more, than your vote for president. Your state and local officials affect your life quite directly in many cases and are often overlooked. So, if you haven't voted already, research where your local candidates stand on issues that matter to you and your family, and don't just vote by party.

With that being said, once you have cast your ballot and voted your conscience, there is something else to remember once the outcomes are revealed.

The outcomes of this election are not the end of the world or worth starting riots over. If the candidates you have been rooting for and pushing to get elected end up falling short, let that motivate you.

There are too many people out there that sit at home with family or friends and complain about the state of this country. Yes, voting helps change our laws and what direction we want our country to go in, but it isn't enough.

As a society, we should hold our elected officials to a high standard, but do we hold ourselves to that standard?

Could you volunteer and help others more?

Could you become more involved with organizations that believe in the same crucial values and issues as you?

Is there any way you can become a better person and make a difference? Pursue bigger goals that affect more people?

As individuals of this great nation, we need to remember that change starts from ideas and motivation in each and every one of us. We cannot sit back and think that politicians and those with power are the only ones who can do something about the ongoing problems around us. Americans need to stand up, fight and discover ways to make real, effective change every single day.

This is also why I urge everyone to vote wisely for local and state officials, because they are usually everyday people with the drive to make a difference. They are just people who decided that running for Town Supervisor or County Judge is the best way that their motivations could better their local communities.

So, on Election Day and after, remember that voting is important, but voting confidently for yourself and your ideas are just as important.