I know, I know. When I tell someone I don't plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election in November, I get the same three reactions. I get the all too famous, "You have the right to vote. Use it." I get the frightened one, "If you don't vote, how will you keep *insert name here* out of the Oval Office?" And ultimately, "You aren't doing your job as a US citizen."

There are many reasons why someone might not vote. Maybe they are out of town, maybe they don't have a way to get to the polls, or maybe they aren't registered. I'm not alone in my adventure here.

Listen, I get it. I understand it is my right to vote. I know it is my duty as a citizen to vote. But that doesn't mean I have to. I don't have to vote. Just as with the other rights I have. Just because I have the right to protest, I'm not out there protesting. Even though I have the right to bear arms, I currently do not possess a firearm.

I've have many people tell me that I need to vote and that if I don't vote, so-so will get into the office and ruin America. I see their concerns. But I'm not changing my mind.

It doesn't matter what I feel about the presidential candidates. Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein all offer both positive and negatives in their campaigns. I could go on and on about the pros and cons about each one of them. However, it does not make me bad person for having the opinions that I do.

This isn't something I take lightly. I want to vote. I want to be able to say that my voice mattered. But what if I personally feel like my voice isn't going to change a thing?

If I simply do not like any of the candidates, I don't have to vote. I don't have to vote for the 'lesser of two evils.' I'm not going to vote for someone that I do not want as my president. I do not have to vote for someone who I feel doesn't share my beliefs. I'm not going to settle for a presidential candidate.

I'm not a bad person. And other people who share my beliefs aren't bad people either. We have a voice, we want to share it. It doesn't matter what the media tells us, what our parents tell us, or what politicians say. If we don't want to vote for the sake of not voting. So be it. Hear our voice loud and clear that we aren't going to settle. Not this time.

Stay wild.