Let your voice be heard: Educate yourself, then vote

Illustration by Samantha Mandujano

Written by Elly Herrick, News Editor, Staff Writer, Photographer, Illustrator & Podcaster

When our rights are in danger, it’s imperative to be aware of who is in charge. The 2020 election has stirred many emotions in the masses, especially in the youth. In recent months, public cries for social justice and equality were heard via Black Lives Matter. When Amy Coney Barrett was sworn onto the U.S. Supreme Court, against the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s wishes, many people became afraid for their rights. 

The growing tension between Republicans and Democrats thickened, furthering the divide in the United States. We need to work together, but to me, it seems like we’re moving even further apart. High schools house the next generation and once students get the right to vote, whatever box we shade can make a huge difference in the election. 

Even though politics is an awkward topic, youths need to care about it because we’re going to be the ones running the country in the future. In a country that is full of division and manipulation, it’s important to know your rights, how to defend your rights, and how to defend others.

With the way voter participation is increasing, more people are becoming aware of who is in charge. Increasing voter turnout is a great start. Now voters should focus on the quality of their vote and get an understanding of the weight of their choice.

Understanding the three branches of government is a good starting point, but young adults should learn about the different political parties beyond just red and blue. Learn about interest groups and third parties. Learn about how our government works and who has led it and how well they did. It is important to know because it influences our choices and makes us think before we shade in a box. If you just vote solely political party instead of researching the candidate, it’s like closing your eyes in a grocery store and grabbing whatever your hand touches. Doing research and discovering more about what puts the US in the USA can surprise you. Without the people, the government is useless. We have the power over the government, not the other way around. By electing people into office, we can control and support change.

Youths should not only care about politics, but they should get involved in it too and have healthy conversations about it instead of heated arguments on Twitter. To vote means that your voice gets heard and counted. Sometimes, silence does more harm than good.