Elections, especially a Presidential Election, always stir up some pressing questions. Is voting important? Does it really matter whether you vote or not? And, additionally, do you truly have a say in the election, or should you just skip out?

Some people think that individual votes don’t matter. They doubt that the process is fair, so they decide not to vote at all. In my opinion, though, if you are able, it’s important that you share your voice and vote. Here’s why…

Reason #1: Voting lets people express themselves. In an article written by Kim Bellware and Daniel Marans, reporters for The Huffington Post, their opinion on voting and its importance, specific to this year’s election, was expressed. One section of the article states that, “…voting is an important, meaningful way to back the issues you care about ― and the representatives you think can best effect the changes you want to see.” When you vote, you are making the decision to choose someone who you feel will best meet our country’s needs. It’s important that you choose someone who expresses ideas that you can agree with. After all, you are selecting the next leader of our country.

Reason #2: People in our country, throughout history, have fought and suffered to gain the right to vote, and it only makes sense that we take advantage of this awesome ability that we have. According to that same article previously mentioned, “Voting is a right generations of Americans struggled to win- and people in other countries are still fighting for.” We have the right, in our country, to put our name on the ballot and to make a difference. Why wouldn’t we want to do that?

Reason #3: Another reason to vote is “So that you can complain with integrity.” (www.followmyvote.com) You see, no matter who wins the election, if you vote, at least you’ll be able to make educated thoughts and statements based on what you know. You can rejoice or complain knowing that, for lack of a better term, at least you tried!

Therefore, all in all, voting is important and we’re lucky to have it as a right and, in the words of FDR, the thirty-second president of the United States, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”(www.brainyquote.com) If you can (on November 8), go vote!