Imagine fighting for the U.S. military for over 30 years. You have been in active combat and you have seen your friends lose their lives for the greater good of the American people. Now also imagine that you are unable to vote for the leader of the country you have so bravely fought for. This is the reality for veterans in Guam. Guam has one of the highest concentrations of military veterans amongst all U.S. states and territories, despite their small population. One in eight adults have served on the armed forces, yet come presidential elections they do not have the right to vote. I am highlighting this injustice to express to you that voting is a privilege. It is an honor, and it is something that should note be taken for granted.
Here’s a short list of why it is important for college students to vote:
- As highlighted above, it is a privilege. No matter who you are, what your ethnicity, gender, or age, someone fought for you to have this right. The least you can do is honor those who fought for you.
- Your vote actually matters. There are more than 75 million Millennials, and we have the power to make a serious impact on the outcome of the election. Not to mention, some elections really do come down to a small margin of votes. (Peep the 2000 presidential election when votes had to be recounted in Florida)
- Student needs won’t get addressed without student votes. This one seems obvious: politicians support policies/ initiatives that are popular amongst groups with a high voter turnout. If we don’t show up to vote, we will continue to have a lower political influence than we have the potential to.
- Policies will affect your future. Whoever becomes president for the next four years will greatly impact life after graduation: getting a job, health insurance, starting a family, buying a home etc. Not to mention, politicians are constantly making decisions about student loan policies and the cost of higher education.
- You’re voting on more than just the President. You are voting for congress (they make up federal laws and can make life a lot easier or a lot more difficult for the president), governors (these are the people largely responsible for state budget which affects things like healthcare, education, and services for people with disabilities), and ballot measures (here you vote directly on certain policies like medical marijuana, guns, minimum wage, and the death penalty).
All in all, having the right to vote is a huge part of what makes us Americans and no one should take that right for granted.