Voting is so important, and often so overlooked. Voting is an essential part of our democratic process, it is how we decide the direction of our country and exercise our roles as citizens of this great nation.

People often undervalue the significance of voting. They say their vote won't matter. And they're right. When they don't vote, their opinions don't matter. You can huff and puff about politics all you want, but when you don't vote, you chose silence.

The choice to forgo voting means complacency. It means you do not want a say in the writing of history. It means you are content with silence, you allow your voice to go expressed and unheard.

No matter your party lines, no matter your creed, your feeling on our past presidents, the current candidates or the issues, you need to vote. As a citizen of the United States, I beg you, for your own self-interests, exclaim your opinions from the rooftop, in the form of a voting ballot.

Often times there is confusion and difficulty attached to registering to vote. Have no fear, as someone working in my community on voter registration I assure you, it can be easy. People like me will be becoming more and more present in the next few months. You will see us at subway stops, outside grocery stores, knocking at your door.

We will be present in your community, not to harass you about a particular candidate, but to help you fulfill your right as a citizen.

So tell your friends, call your neighbors, encourage everyone you know to get registered and allow their voice to be heard.

Come November, no matter the outcome, don't you want to know at least that you had your say, you said your piece and participated in a tradition of government and society far bigger and older than yourself? Vote for yourself, vote for your families, and vote for your right to be heard.