The United States has one of the lowest voter turn outs in the entire world. According to the American Presidency Project, only 54 percent of eligible voters cast their vote in the most recent presidential election. This number has been fluctuating on a steady decline since the 1960s, and continues time and time again to present itself as a major issue. Every individual with the right to make a selection about the leader of our country should recognize the importance of their voice and exercise their ability to let it be heard.

2016 is a pivotal election year, especially because of the massive use of media and its role in the everyday lives of nearly all United States citizens. The first step to casting your vote is gathering information, and becoming an informed voter has never been easier. It has never been easier to read an article or watch a video of a candidate, especially because you barely even have to try. Odds are, you are most likely bound to stumble upon an ad or campaign video for more than one candidate at least once day. Also, each candidate is represented through their own website and smartphone app, where anyone can view their policies and histories and so much more any time they would like. Information is literally right at your finger tips, so the excuse of refraining from voting due to lack of knowledge is simply not applicable. I can not stress enough that every vote matters. If everyone had the same idea that for some reason their vote didn’t matter, the United States would cease to be a democracy.

Recent elections have shown immensely close numbers between candidates, even down to within one percentage point. A major issue that I feel arises from this is the same people who don’t vote later complain of the election winner and his or her policies or course of action, while having no room to do so based on their decision to opt out of their right and obligation to vote. All of this directly applies to myself and good percentage of my peers, because as college students, because that means we represent a demographic of nearly 44 million people.

With this next election, and next president, we are choosing who we want in office as we graduate from school and enter the adult world, including job opportunities, wages, insurance, and so much more. The policies you vote for today will have a huge influence on your life after college. Do you really want to leave those decisions up to someone else? Also, college years are a time of empowerment and self discovery, striving to become and individual and break away from the masses.

Bypassing the voting process is not the time to relinquish this freedom. Your vote matters most because you are finally able to cast it. Demonstrate independence and knowledge and go voice your opinions on issues, policies, and candidates. Let your voice be heard and stand up for what you believe in.

Go vote!