As various political events within our nation increase conversations and as presidential elections near, I hear more people my age voicing their opinions about its current state. 

It’s good for everyone, especially young adults and students, to feel like they can safely voice their opinion.

However, in order for things to change, an action has to be made. You can say as much as you want, but if you don’t do anything about what you think, things stay the way they are.

For many, this means becoming local, state or even national activists for politicians or causes. The work these people do changes lives, but not everyone can feasibly manage to do that, so that’s not what I’m suggesting.

I’m asking you to simply register to vote. It’s one of the easiest ways to get involved in making your city, state or country the place you want it to be and the place you want future generations to grow up in.

No matter the size of your city or state, this can apply to you, even if you are perfectly happy with the way things are right now.

You may ask me why you should vote if you aren’t happy with any candidate or if you don’t want anything to change. How will anyone know these opinions if you don’t formally share them? Ballots offer write-in or obstain options for this reason.

Additionally, counties and states offer absentee ballots designed specifically for students and adults traveling or living away from home. Your community still wants and needs you to voice your opinion, so it provides you with the resources to do so from afar.

It’s important to express how you feel with a vote. If no one shares with those around them, no one gets the support they need for their cause  and no one accomplishes anything.

According to the U.S. Census, in the November 2018 election 36 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds voted.

This number increased by 79 percent from the previous November election in 2014, but there is still room for it to grow.

We are a generation that can truly change the nation and the world. I’ve seen many students stand up and fight for something small they believe in like their grades or a policy at their university.

Our generation is becoming the future. Why shouldn’t this extend on a city, state and nation-wide scale?