Even in 2018, a common misconception is to believe that your vote does not matter, which is far from the truth. Now more than ever, young voters, specifically between the ages of 18 and 29, need to engage in the political process. Why? Well, young voters currently account for more than half of the current voting population. Ultimately, you are deciding your future, and you do not want someone else doing that for you.

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However, due to the aforementioned misconception, older Americans have a tendency to dominate the voting process, which has the potential to be detrimental to your future. Given that the world is evolving and calling more attention to numerous social and political issues, it is likely that you have a different opinion or stance than someone who is twenty years older than you. If your excuse for not participating in this election has to do with the ability to participate in the next one, you should know that is a dangerous road to take. More often than not, political stances, decisions and bills are not made or passed overnight, but they are likely to change once new candidates are elected. You have to take the first step to bring about change, which starts with education and actually taking the time to be knowledgeable about who you are voting for. Do your research and discover who aligns with your beliefs.

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If that is not enough to persuade you, research the 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida. During this time, Al Gore ran against George W. Bush. Due to the small margin of votes, which means the closeness between candidate voting numbers, Florida state ruled for a manual recount. In the 2016 election, Al Gore reflected on this event, saying that "Every single vote counts ... Do not, please, put yourself in a position where you look back on this election, years from now and say, 'that was the hinge of history, and I could have potentially made all of the difference.'" Do not be the person that allows the votes to be close, and do not allow your friends or family to be either.

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More importantly, know that you do not have an excuse not to vote. Even if the voting process is not readily available to you due to location, lack of registration, and so on, you still have the capability to educate yourself and inform others. While some may say it's in poor taste to discuss politics with family members, friends, and even other students, there should be no problem if your intent is to simply inform others about the available candidates and their propositions. There is nothing wrong with politely taking a stance and advocating for your standpoint. Being educated and understanding who you are voting for is crucial as some candidates swear to promise one thing in order to gain votes and then later fall through with their pledge after being elected.

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Another common argument against voting is that many claim it will not impact their life at this time. Again, this is a misconception. While political decisions are not made overnight, we know that both political and social climates can change due to a candidate's future plans and the way they treat and speak to the public. Right now, you are a college student, which means you may have to worry about finding a job after graduating, buying a house, paying off debt and loans, marriage, health insurance, and so on. Surprise! These are all things that are going to be impacted by this election and every election that will follow.

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If you don't already know, here are some of the most common debates of the upcoming election: LGBTQ rights, minority representation, gun laws and/or control, foreign policy and military involvement, healthcare, taxes, education, civil rights, climate change, voting rights, sexual harassment and assault, disability and mental illness, childcare, pro-life vs. pro-choice, term limits, war on drugs, veteran affairs, trade, and so on.

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That being said, go out and vote. Protect your beliefs and interests. This is not the time to be compliant or yielding. Take a stance, make a difference, and most importantly, be educated. Election day is November 6th - the day this issue is being printed - and you can check whether or not you're registered to vote on https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/. If you are not registered or you are reading this following election day, let this be your sign to vote in the next election.