With the months flying by, the election date gets closer and closer. With this new election also comes a new opportunity for many high school students as this will be a presidential election in which they can vote. Election day is coming up sooner than one might think and now is a good time to begin educating oneself on a candidate’s ideology and considering who you want to cast your ballot in favor of.

If you are 18 years of age or are 17 and will be 18 by the election you can register to vote now to make sure your opinion is heard regarding how the nation will be run for the next four years. It is a founding value of democracy to be able to elect our leaders and is incredibly important, despite many believing their vote does not make a difference.

“I do not think many high school students are very involved in politics and lack knowledge of our political system, who they want to vote for or even where to register,” said junior Qwynn Nerem, who finds herself highly involved in politics.

Even if many students are unaware of how exactly to make their voices heard in the voting process many still are excited for the opportunity to do so.

Junior Greta Dillinger, who considers herself moderately active in politics feels that her “voice can finally be heard and [she] can be treated like an adult. [She] like[s] to think [her] vote will make an impact. Then again, with all of the people being able to vote it does not really matter in the end.”

Even if it feels like voting does not matter it is still critical to do so or else a different future is created without your involvement.

According to the editors and contributors of “American Government and Politics Today,” a student textbook, “Those who opt not to pay attention or fail to participate must accept what others decide for them – good or bad.”