Now that I am 18 years old, politics has shined a new light on me. I’ve always been interested in what goes on in Washington, but now that I can vote, I have say in who will become our next president.

Lately, the pet peeving issue that makes me lose sleep at night is this new idea (that has come with my generation), saying we all of a sudden don't need to vote. In living in a nation that is so proud of being free and having a democracy, wouldn't it be common sense to take advantage of one of our most significant human rights? But time after time I have heard, “Oh, I’m not voting for Hillary or Trump, they both suck,” or something like, “It doesn't matter if I don't vote.”

NEWSFLASH, it really does!

This election matters just as every election matters. For the next 4 years, one of these 2 very interesting people will run the nation in which we live. This election will basically decide the dynamics of the supreme court, as each candidate offers very different policies that our country will have to adopt and adjust to.

So many huge topics are in dispute, such as the constant argument of criminalizing abortion, the idea that the “American Dream” is diminishing, and the efforts to improve the criminal justice system and put a stop to the recent, constant shootings.

The outcome of this election will determine how these problems are approached and how our nation will change in the next 4 years.

So unless you plan on immigrating to another country, get to the voting polls on November 8th, and vote. Your opinion and vote matters a whole lot more than you may think.