With the presidential elections right around the corner, it’s important to stay educated on not only the candidates, but also the facts about voting itself. It’s important that everyone who can vote, does vote. According to a statistic on Statisticbrain.com, only 57.5% of Americans voted in the 2012 Presidential election.

One of the most common excuses for not voting is “my single vote is not going to matter,” but 42.5% of eligible citizen’s votes matter. As a citizen of the United States, your opinion counts, therefore it’s your responsibility to cast your vote. We’re lucky enough to be one of the select countries that believes in democracy, so you should want to voice your opinion and have it actually be heard.

In an article by Lindsey Beard on The Odyssey Online, she emphasizes just how much your vote counts. “John F. Kennedy squeaked out victory over Richard M. Nixon in 1960 by just 0.1 percent,” Beard said.

As stated before, your opinion matters! 0.1 percent made a difference in the 1960 election and it could make one in the 2016 election. Even if you aren’t particularly fond of any of the candidates, a vote against them is better than no vote at all.

Voting is something you should do even if you aren’t into politics. Using your disliking towards politics as an excuse not to participate in the elections is the same as someone refusing to go to the doctor because they don’t like the show Grey’s Anatomy. It may not be your forte, but it’s a part of life.

Millennials should stay educated on the people running in the election as well as the impact their votes can have on the future of our country. In the same article from The Odyssey Online, it talks specifically about how vital it is that millennials vote.

“Millennials (ages 18 to 34) are the largest generation in our country,” Beard said.

Our generation has the biggest advantage when it comes to getting our way in the election. Millennials are obviously going to be looking for a president with different values than a Baby Boomer is. As a whole, we are a very outspoken, free willed group. Now that we are adults and our opinions are valued by our elderly, we should take that opportunity to make a difference.

There are numerous reasons why you should participate in the presidential elections throughout your life (plus, you get a free sticker).