With the 2020 presidential election in the works, more and more discussions are being had about voting accessibility and participation. Personally, I could not wait to vote when I turned 18 (I even registered early when I was 17!) and finally have a real voice in policies and elections. For many other people around my age, the opposite is true– I have all too often heard my peers talk about how politics doesn't interest/affect them or how they don't see why voting is important. Almost all workings of the government affect citizens in some way and voting is one true way to express who you believe should be sitting in office.
Some people may claim that keeping up with politics is too complicated, too boring, or that it makes them too upset. But, no one is asking you to binge-watch every episode of PBS Newshour or pay for subscriptions to every newspaper you can think of. News outlets have taken notice of recent trends in social media usage and online accessibility. News is literally everywhere if you look for it. Hitting follow on CNN's Twitter or looking at the New York Times' online daily briefing instantly connects you to the rest of the country and the world.
Staying up to date with current events is so important when thinking about American politics because the more informed you are, the more you understand how issues may be intertwined or related. It's really no secret that Washington has been in turmoil for the past couple of years as animosity from both sides of the political aisle has skyrocketed; there's been corruption, backhanded deals, controversy, and backlash against policies. But this is exactly why this year's election is the key to turning all of that around.
One huge benefit of being an informed voting citizen is that your beliefs are further strengthened (or sometimes changed and then strengthened) by facts and examples that you pick up across your news consumption. Because of this, you are in the position to use your power as a citizen to fight for those beliefs, and maybe even advocate for change through activism.
Also, let's be honest, a lot of politicians aren't getting any younger. As the years go on and people in offices retire, the truth is clearer than ever– our generation is next. We are the up and coming leaders, policymakers, and collaborators for this country and it's time for us all to start assuming our civic responsibilities. Life is stressful, yes, but doing our duty as Americans helps us stay included in governmental processes and insert our opinions about policies that can affect our lives.
Overall, a vote is the most powerful when it's from someone who's informed about what's going on in the country and the world's political sphere. No matter if your political beliefs are left, right, or somewhere in the middle, your voice deserves to be heard so that the turnout of the 2020 presidential race and all other elections to come will better represent us, the American people.
