Election season is upon us. If you didn’t already know, the presidential election is on November 5th. Because this election can change the course of history, it is a subject that seems to be more on the minds of the adults in our lives and not so much a part of our everyday lunch table discussion.
Many Fort students might not care because most of us cannot vote until we are 18. With all the homework and studying we have to do, we do not have time to think about whose names are going to be on that ballot in November when we have little power to effect the change we want to see. The only reason we know when Election Day is, is because we are off from school for it. So, why is it so important for young people to vote?
As teenagers we all want to be adults in some way. We want to be adults so we can have the freedom and independence to get a say how our society looks, what freedoms we have access to, and how we want to live our lives. What if you never get that freedom to make decisions without an adult constantly telling you what to do? If you think of it, this same relationship is like the one between a government and its citizens. Unfortunately, many citizens in other countries still don’t have that right at all. Generations of people have fought and died for their children to have the right to vote. Many are still not allowed. People around the world would kill to have the right you get when you turn 18.
It is also easy to lose your perspective on how much your vote matters.You may think that your vote is so insignificant that it’s not worth filling out a ballot — or that, because of the electoral college, your vote will not make a different in a state that traditionally votes for Democrats like New York. For every one person who doesn’t want to vote, however, that is one less voice we have in our government, one less step toward making a difference in politics. When people fail to see much of a change in policies right away, they often get the idea that what they are doing is not enough and therefore not worth it. Just because we do not always see the change does not mean that change is not actively happening. Change is gradual and incremental, and it only happens when those who want it most consistently participate in the electoral process.
Many people find the idea of politics to be too complicated to understand and abandon it all together. You may ask yourself, “I don’t know anything about who is running; how am I supposed to pick just one candidate? If I do pick one, is it even the right choice? What if I do not like either candidate?” There are no right or wrong answers. It is your opinion. It is you who gets their own voting booth, their own ballot, their own ideas. If you are eligible to vote but discouraged by voting simply because you do not know much about who is running, think of some resources you can go to that will help you get more of a sense of things. For instance, you can take an online quiz that tells you which candidate(s) align most with your political beliefs based on how you answer its questions. You may want to look at trusted news websites, books, articles, or ask any adults who you trust have a good sense of knowledge on the topic. Do not let your lack of knowledge stop you from making a choice that can make a true difference in the world, especially when there are so many resources available to teach you.
If you are like me and below the age of 18, it can be scary to think about what you will do when the time finally comes for you to vote. You may even be frustrated now because you cannot. The reason it is so important for young people to vote is it is what makes you an individual. It is your voice that is being heard. It is your only way as a citizen of this country to express how you feel about things that affect you, your younger siblings, your grandparents even. It is your right and you owe it to yourself to want a say in what happens. Every vote counts. And if you are 18 or older, register to vote and get to the polls. We as the younger generation can make a difference in our world. So go vote, or start preparing for the moment you can.
