By now, most of us are probably tired of this election cycle. It is the main topic of every news broadcast, campaign ads are included in many commercial breaks, and people on social media cannot help but share and discuss articles and opinions on why either Trump or Clinton are the best/worst people for the job of President of the United States. However, this election has been different in several ways. With many Millennials reaching voting age, younger people became more involved with this election. Many threw their support behind Bernie Sanders, who ran his campaign based on bringing "Political Revolution" to Washington. On the Republican side, conservatives disgruntled with the "establishment" that they believed no longer represented their interests were drawn to the one and only Donald J. Trump, who, unlike Sanders, was able to earn his party's nomination, much to the chagrin of many in the GOP. Thanks to Trump securing the nomination several weeks before the GOP convention, and Hillary Clinton having the support of the majority of super delegates to all but guarantee her the nomination after the Iowa caucus, both candidates were able to start the political and personal attacks that Americans have grown accustomed to every presidential election. However, more so than past election cycles, the voters have grown to realize that the choices presented to them are anything but ideal.

I am not going to reiterate the tired rhetoric that every political pundit, journalist, blogger, or that one Facebook friend has said about Trump or Clinton. What has been severely lacking in the discussion of this election cycle is whether or not Congress will experience a power shift. According to polls on RealClearPolitics, the Senate is up for grabs, while Republicans are projected to maintain control of the House of Representatives. So if you are a Republican voter terrified of the damage that Clinton may cause in office, you can take comfort in the fact that she will be held in check by at least one of the houses of Congress (unless you hold to the belief that all Republicans are all just RINOs part of the Washington establishment). However, if Trump is somehow able to win (polling data suggests otherwise), one who is terrified of the results of a Trump presidency have to hope that the Democrats are able to gain control of the Senate in order to assure he does not run rampant with his policies. That being said, a Republican Congress does create an interesting dynamic between Trump and a Congress full of Republicans that claim to despise him. Will they work with Trump, or join the Democrats in opposing him?

All this being said, the main point to be made here is that while the office of the president is indeed extremely important, the makeup of the houses of Congress are just as important. It is here where bills are voted on, and where Supreme Court justices are approved. It could be argued that the number of justices that the next president appoints is the most important aspect of this election, resulting in a lasting legacy for the president that appoints them. You may be one of those people that believes this country is doomed no matter who is in office. You may be voting for a Gary Johnson or Jill Stein. But it is still vital that you vote because while you may live in a state that always vote Democrat or Republican when it comes to electoral votes, you can still influence the outcome of your local Congressional elections. This country is in need of change, and perhaps a generation of politicians will eventually come along to instigate that change. However, that change will not come if we as a people passively sit on our hands.