It is no secret that the current political state of the United States is what some would describe as volatile. US citizens are slowly losing trust in politicians and the political process. As a result, people are tuning out politics from their lives. This entails a stark lack of participation in elections.

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Proof of this lies in the 2016 Presidential Election. According to CNN, only 55 percent of eligible voters went to the ballets to cast their vote in the election, which is the lowest mark since 1996. The most significant demographic drop occurred with the millennials (those aged 23-40) creating a large downturn in voting participation. In fact, millennials had the lowest voter turnout in the last presidential election with less than half of eligible voters going to the polls, according to a National Public Radio research group. To further hammer the point home, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University found that only 19 percent of university students voted in the 2014 midterm elections.

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This is very concerning, especially considering the ramifications of elections nowadays. With the sharp divide between political parties, there is almost always going to be a certain amount of dissatisfaction with whoever is elected to a given position. Whichever party wins over another, whether it is in the US Government or a local government, that party controls the vision of the town, state or country they govern. This makes it all the more important for voters of all ages and parties to participate in elections and be politically active.

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Therefore, initiatives like the Big Ten Voting Challenge have been put into motion to encourage political activism. The Big Ten Voting Challenge was set up in September of last year by the 14 universities in the Big Ten Conference. As part of their initiative to increase voter participation, there is a competition between Big Ten schools to see who can get the most students to vote in upcoming elections.

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At the end of the upcoming midterm elections, two schools will be given trophies to commend their efforts. According to The Association of Big Ten Students’ website, one school will receive an award for highest eligible voter turnout, and the other will receive an award for most improved voter turnout, as compared to the 2014 midterm elections.

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These midterms are as crucial as ever in determining where this country is going to go. The currently Republican-controlled Congress could be turned on its ear by the end of the year, as all 435 House seats and 35 of the Senate seats are up for grabs. This, in turn, could further the political division of the country or perhaps provide some healing and cohesion. Only time will tell.

One thing is for sure though, this country’s political processes are likely going to worsen until everyone’s voice is heard. The US Government is a democracy for a reason, for freedom of opinion and the freedom to elect leaders that represent people's viewpoints. Considering the impact millenials and college students have on the future of this nation, their votes are some of the most important, making initiatives like the Big Ten Voting Challenge crucial in political processes.

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Penn State students are additionally crucial to the political processes of this country. Students can visit https://psu.turbovote.org/ to register to vote in the Big Ten Voting Challenge. In registering, students can receive text reminders of local, state and national elections. So, be sure to register and vote come November 6