With Election Day fast approaching, the 2016 campaign numbers still show the highest negatives in our nation’s history, with Hillary Clinton’s net negative rating at about -16 and Donald Trump’s net negative rating at about -17 according to "The Washington Post." It seems as if the enfranchised public is forgetting they don’t have to pick between Clinton or Trump. I have heard countless times that voting this year will mean choosing between the lesser of two evils, or that there is no point in voting for the less popular and publicized candidates because they don’t have a chance. Many millennials have even been expressing a desire to skip the polls altogether this year, which deeply saddens me. For my contemporaries and myself, this is the first presidential election we are legally allowed to vote in. Voting is one of the few privileges that comes with being eighteen, the rite of passage into adulthood. I was lucky enough to turn eighteen during an election year (my mother claims she planned it that way, but I have my doubts) and I don’t plan on squandering that right to voice my political opinions by not voting. I believe in a civic duty, and I believe it’s part of that duty to understand all my options and make an informed decision, which may not always be synonymous with the popular one.

We’ve spent the past few weeks, months actually, watching Trump and Clinton dominate the advertisement industries. As a nation running on a two-party political system, only the Republican and Democratic candidates get any major coverage and are the only candidates that participate in televised debates. But, we are all forgetting that there are two other candidates that would be equally viable options for president. Jill Stein and Gary Johnson deserve some attention and consideration before you hit the polls November 8. Johnson represents the Libertarian party and Stein represents the Green party. Jill Stein has the Power to the People Plan, which will attempt to move the economy to a human-centered economy and aims to end unemployment and poverty, slow climate change and recognize human rights. Stein plans to create living-wage jobs and invest in renewable energy. She also supports healthcare and education as a right. Johnson looks to decrease national debt and wasteful spending, reform taxation, create jobs, limit political terms, promotes civil liberties, is pro-choice, and takes a fairly ethical stance on immigration. More about both of these third party candidates can be found on their official websites.

I wish people would stop saying they have to choose between the lesser of two evils when, in reality, there are four options. We, as politically active citizens, shouldn’t be resigning ourselves to the popular and more publicized candidates. Stay informed, don’t forget to vote, and always remember: writing in a name counts as fulfilling your civic duty without outright supporting a candidate who’s views you may disagree with.