Reflect and Nourish

With Election Day (Nov. 8) being right around the corner, I want to urge everyone who is eligible to vote to cast their ballot. 

Voting is essential because elected candidates make decisions that affect our everyday lives in multiple facets of life — everything from the safety and quality of our roads, schools, and working conditions to the policies in healthcare, environmental efforts, and gun regulations, just to name a few. 

Since politics affects everyone, and there are many pressing issues facing our country — and the world — today, we must all do our part to raise our voices about the changes we want to see. 

Additionally, there’s strength in numbers: the more people cast their ballots and make their voices heard, the more likely our needs will be addressed. 

This is especially true for young people, and this is a point I want to emphasize since my target audience is mainly young college students. 

There are more than eight million newly eligible voters this year, and those newly eligible voters (ages 18-19) are diversifying the electorate, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement. This means that young people will likely have a remarkable influence on the results of the election. 

Because the choices politicians make today will have an effect on young people’s lives for years to come, it is crucial that we young people vote to make our needs known. 

Lastly, voting will help you feel a greater sense of contribution and responsibility — it simply feels good to be civically engaged. Voting is a powerful way to express your needs, wants, and concerns, and knowing that you put in the effort to make a difference will make you feel good about yourself. 

All in all, large-scale changes only happen when leaders become proactive about making those changes. So, it’s vital that we vote for leaders who are eager to do just that. 

Be sure to check your voter registration status. You can check your registration status and your state’s registration dates and guidelines at https://vote.gov/. 

Also, decide whether you want to vote in person or by mail. If you choose to vote by mail, make sure you request your ballot before your state’s deadline.