Hey, you. Yes, you. The Millennials. Did you know the next leader of our country will have more influence over your life than any president in the past has? Now before you come up with 101 reasons why you will not make it to the voting polls this year, let me combat a few of the common ones:
“What is one extra vote going to do?”
Probably the most common excuse you’ll hear among college students. 42.5% of eligible voters did not vote, which is about 47 million people (www.census.gov). What if every one of these people thought their vote was just one vote and would have no effect?
“The outcome does not really have a direct effect on me.”
Undocumented people’s rights. Same sex marriage. Gun control. Taxes. Health care. Education. The next president will be making policies and decisions on all these important matters, and now more than ever in our lives, the outcome of these decisions will be directly affecting us for years to come.
“Nothing will change.”
Enough said:
“Older people who know more than me will take care of it.”
The majority of the people that vote in the presidential election are over 45 years old (www.census.gov). Therefore, it can be implied that their primary concern is healthcare and retirement issues. Our generation is in need of people to represent us on issues such as student loans and educational standards. If we do not speak up on the issues that are directly affecting us, we cannot expect anybody else to.
If this doesn’t convince you, candidate and politics aside, think of it as simply exercising a right. Most citizens in countries around the world fight everyday for this right that we take for granted. No matter what background you are from, we all share one thing in common, and that is the fact that our nation’s predecessors have fought for our rights. For none other than this reason alone, voting is a way of recognizing those who fought and died for us.
Works cited:
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo…
http://www.carson.army.mil/dhr/DHR/VotingAssistance/Images/YourVoteIsYou…
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