To say 2020 has been a difficult year would be an understatement. Emotionally, socially, politically, and everything in between, it’s fair to say 2020 had been rough. As voting season fast approaches, a question we should all be asking ourselves is when am I going to vote?
Whether through an absentee ballot or going to your physical polling location, voting ensures that all of our voices are heard and all our votes are represented. As a young person, it’s easy to get wrapped up in our own personal lives with the weight of school and other extracurriculars during the semester. Surprisingly it’s not uncommon among young people to assume that the election isn’t necessarily going to affect our personal lives today. Though it might not affect us today, we can’t always say the same for tomorrow or a few years down the line. The fact of the matter is that the outcome of elections like the general election coming up this November does have real long-term consequences, for not only ourselves but our communities.
Voting doesn’t only represent responsibility in terms of civic engagement; it also gives us opportunities to see the change we’d like to see implemented. By voting, we’re taking that action to be vocal about the topics that matter to us.
Though historically youth have turned out at a significantly lower rate than older adults, we can all be a part of a movement that changes this trend. Nowadays with instant social media and all of the technology surrounding our everyday lives, it’s easier than ever to get educated and register to vote. By registering or pledging to vote at studentvote.org, it takes less than three minutes to make a lasting impact. With the Student PIRGs New Voters Project, the opportunity to find out about how you can make your voice heard this November is easier than ever! So as our fall semester continues I implore you to think about your personal voting plan. Do you plan on going to the polls or submitting an absentee ballot? Either way, as the late beloved RGB said “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time”, or in this case, one vote at a time.