Voting in the United States has been a historical right for Americans to choose their leaders and decide who will represent them on a federal, state and local level. In 2024, voting will not only decide who will become the next president of the United States but will also decide a large portion of our future. The importance of voting is undeniable; however, many do not believe their voice or vote matters. They are wrong. 

In a time when the media heavily focuses on how swing states will truly decide the election, it is a very understandable reaction to believe that your vote doesn’t matter. 

As college students, one reason our vote matters in this election is because whoever wins the presidency will very likely decide the makeup of the Supreme Court for the rest of our lives. Further, as young people, we sometimes also believe that presidential elections are not that important. Presidential elections take place every four years, so if we do not like what we see we believe that we have the opportunity to “try again.” 

This is not true. 

Presidents can appoint Supreme Court justices, who will likely stay on the bench for decades. If you think this election will not decide your future, think again. The Supreme Court has minimal checks upon it and comes with the luxury of a lifetime appointment. That means that who you vote for in this election can determine the federal laws that are put in place for you and your children. 

The media is not discussing this fact as much as it should, and we saw how integral the election in 2016 was for the court — it essentially changed everything. If you are someone who is not interested in politics, or you believe that your voice does not matter, I urge you to look into some recent Supreme Court cases that the current judges have decided on. Minimal research will show that Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his Dobbs v. Jackson concurrence that he believes the court should revisit Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that defends the right to gay marriage. While you might not believe that one president can make much of an impact on your future, think about how the Supreme Court can.

This is also a huge year for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The current forecast predicts that the Senate can switch to Republican control with a net gain of two seats. It is also predicted that there are 16 toss-up seats in the House of Representatives. Voting for the presidency affects all other branches of the government, and it is in your control to decide who you want to maintain the legislature.

Additionally, this is the first year that many young people in Generation Z can vote. We know that older people always show up in record numbers at the polls. In the 2016 election, 27% of registered voters aged 65 and over voted, in contrast, 18% of registered voters between the ages of 18 and 29 voted. 

These numbers are appalling. As young people, we are constantly discussing our opinions on social media and how unhappy we are about specific issues and rights that we feel are not being fairly given to individuals. If you have ever voiced an opinion about politics and have ever felt unfairly treated by the government, you have a clear way to act toward impacting these problems. 

Get off social media, look up your state’s voting information and register to vote. This whole process will not take you more than 30 minutes. Older generations complain about politics, but they are doing something about it: They are showing up at the polls or mailing in their ballots. Why can we not show up in the same way? 

As students, this election has an important impact on something unfortunately close to us: gun control regulations and gun rights. The leading cause of death in the United States for teenagers is gun violence. You may have younger siblings in high school and elementary schools who have to go through school shooting drills every month. 

The unfortunate reality in the United States is politicians are not listening to youth who advocate for gun rights. This is due to an array of reasons, but luckily, there is a very easy thing you can do to help advocate for gun regulation or gun rights (whichever you support), and it is through voting.

It may seem daunting as an out-of-state voter to set up your absentee ballot. I felt the same way when I was registering to vote. Luckily, the internet has a plethora of helpful information regarding voting and mail-in ballots. One quick Google search can tell you all the information you need to register.

For example, in the state of Massachusetts, the deadline to register to vote in person and by mail-in ballot is Oct. 26. That means there is still time if you are an in-state resident, and there is probably still time if you are from out of state. 

Historically, certain groups have fought for their right to vote, a right we take for granted. Until 1860, only white, rich, male property owners had the right to vote. Until 1870, Black men did not have the right to vote and until 1920, women did not have the right to vote — a right that did not apply to all women. Voting is a right that every American should exercise, even if you feel your voice does not matter. Why not exercise the right that so many individuals have fought for you to have? 

Some people feel like they should not vote since winning the popular vote technically does not even ensure the candidate you voted for will become president. This is a valid discussion and brings to light some problems with the electoral system. These problems are important to discuss and think about when looking into candidates, but unfortunately, we cannot change the system overnight. You are also not helping change the system through not voting. Politicians will use their power and position to influence legislation and make changes that you may be even more unhappy about. 

The energy you are wasting complaining about how your voice does not matter is the energy you could be utilizing researching how to vote in your county. 

No one else is going to advocate for you. If you look at historical movements started by a few individuals advocating for equality, you should be inspired by how important your opinions are. While your vote may not make the exact change you are looking for, voting is the first step in the right direction. 

As Americans, we need to wake up and look at the facts. The fact of the matter is that politics are important to your life. You may not care about politics, but politics sure do care about you. 

We all have a choice this election season: We can stand by and watch a historic election take place without our input or we can stand with history and vote. It is your choice, but remember how important voting was for your ancestors; how disenfranchisement through redlining and poll taxes was set in place to keep people from voting, and how many still found a way to get their vote through. 

It is up to you.

Ava Vitiello is a second-year political science major. She can be reached at [email protected].