Voting is our chance to make a change and let our voices be heard, but the largest group of potential voters are the ones who are not participating – college students.
Millennials could be the largest percentage of voters to hit the polls, according to Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, but because so many of the younger members of this generation and the oldest members of the post-Millennial generation, or those born after 1996, are not registered, the opinions of people ages 18-25 will not be heard.
Turning 18 the year of a presidential election, I believed that we, as the newest generation to vote, could make a change by casting our votes.
However, the recent actions occurring in the government since the 2016 election can be discouraging in our hopes to better our country.
We are a generation that believed we could elect the first women president. A generation that would believe survivors of sexual assault and prevent officials from being a part of any section of the government if they do not represent the public’s best interests.
I am tired of being let down. I am tired of worrying if my best friend is going to be deported despite her being here since she was 2 years old for medical reasons.
However, most of all, I am angry that our officials are letting this happen.
Nearly two years after the election, I still refuse to give up.
The midterm election is where we can change things in Congress and thus change the direction America is going.
The amount of college students going to the polls is very low and this needs to change. Only 17-18 percent of college students voted in the 2014 midterm elections, according to data from Tufts University. If we want to see a positive change in our country, we need to start researching and figuring out what we want for our future.
People talk about how we are the future, but many fail to realize that today, we could have the power.
As young adults, we might feel like we have very limited control and power in our lives as well as in politics – in reality the midterm elections are where our choices make a difference.
While there are other issues to be voted on during the presidential elections, the majority of people focus on who will be president.
Many people, myself included, feel like voting during the presidential election is pointless because the electoral college ultimately makes the decision for us.
They choose who will run our country.
We must remember that we choose the people who have the power to choose our president, Supreme Court judges, and pass laws on our behalf.
Therefore, we need to choose wisely to whom we relinquish our power.
The midterm elections are where our votes actually matter and determine who will hold these powers.
The midterm elections are where OUR power is. This is when everyone needs to do their research and decide on a candidate who best represents their hopes for this country.
The people who win in November are the ones who will choose the next president in 2020. If you are like me and were unhappy with the results of the 2016 election, march to the polls and let your voice be heard.
The deadline to register to vote online and by mail is Monday, Oct. 22. If you received your ballot by mail, the library has a drop-off box on the second floor.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
