It seems like now more than ever, America is in trouble. Presidential elections are just around the corner, and many people feel helpless. From conversations I have had with others, a lot of people seem to think neither of the two major party candidates is qualified for the job as commander in chief of this country. Unfortunately, that means that even more young adults than usual will simply choose not to vote because why should they bother? Others think that politics is not something that interests them.
Personally, I think this way of thinking is misguided. Just because you are supposedly stuck between two candidates does not mean your vote will not make a difference. Who becomes president can directly impact your day-to-day life. The next president could determine whether or not your best friend’s parents get deported or how much student loan debt you accumulate. If you don’t believe the president has an impact, think about President Obama and national health care. Electing a president makes a difference. By choosing not to vote, people put themselves in a powerless position. Young adults are notoriously underrepresented in the polls. Whether you believe that is because we are lazy or unmotivated does not matter. What truly matters is that you make a change to that and represent yourself on election day.
If you, like many others, feel that you are stuck between a rock and a hard place for this election, do some research. There are more options out there than the two major party candidates in this election. Google third party candidates, and you will see that there are other people out there who are gaining momentum in this race. Although a third party candidate has never been elected before in the United States, it’s not impossible. Remember, we never had an African American president until eight years ago. We might think things look impossible, but if you support the candidates you believe in, anything could happen.
Some of you may not know where to start. First, you need to register to vote, which you can conveniently do online here. It is a one-time thing, and you will be able to vote in any future elections. Then, on November 8th, head to your local polling place. At college? Unable to make it to your polling place on election day? No problem. Simply apply for an absentee ballot. This varies from state-to-state, so google your state and absentee ballot, and you can mail in your ballot before election day.
Ultimately, young adults are the future of America. We will be electing a president for the next four years of our lives. It is critical that we elect a candidate who will help our country, and hopefully, help our economy enough for us to become successful adults.
Over the last century, people have fought for their right to vote in elections. Even if you don’t come from a group who was deprived their right to vote, think about how much one ballot meant to those people and what they were willing to risk to fight for it. Value your vote and make it count.
