Why should you vote?

I want to emphasize the importance of voting now that a lot of the people around me, including myself, are turning 18. The ages 18-24 have the lowest rate out of all age groups. This doesn’t make much sense since we’re the ones who will live with the policies of elected officials. Most young adults have a mindset that voting isn’t important, which is far from the truth.

Voting can give you the power to create change in your community and improve your quality of life. You might not realize it, but elections impact your daily life. It determines budgets for things like schools and public transportation. Access to healthcare. Job salaries. Crime control. Voting allows you to stand up for people and work towards achieving a sense of equality and creating a safe environment around you. Don’t have the mindset that your vote doesn’t matter because it’s only one out of hundreds or thousands or even millions. No matter how many people vote in an election, every vote matters and counts.

As a woman, I feel empowered to vote because I know how much women fought just 60 years ago to make sure all women could vote. It doesn’t make sense to disregard this privilege after the decades spent fighting for change. Voting is a serious matter, and it is important to get to know the candidates to know if they align with your beliefs and if their policies support you. Don’t just vote to say you did it. Vote to work towards creating a better world for you, the people around you, and your future. As your 18th birthday approaches, or if it has passed, start to read up on upcoming elections and start to think about how you can make a difference in your community by ticking that box.