In April of 2020, Bernie Sanders announced that he had dropped out of the 2020 Democratic race for President. A majority of the former seniors of The Arcade staff were Bernie supporters and when he announced his withdrawal, they were shocked. The seniors felt there was no use in voting unless Bernie was on the ballot. It was scary to see how easy it was for young Americans to decide to not vote.

But as we got closer to Election Day, many of the former staff decided to cast their ballot for the candidate that would bring the change they hoped to see. Although they were firm Bernie supporters, many have settled for Joe Biden. 

An abundance of celebrities, companies, and brands have been urging people to vote more than compared to other election seasons. This Presidential election has reminded people of the importance of voting and that it is important to do your part. 

My mom announced to my family that she was not going to vote for the 2020 Presidential Election because she thought her vote didn’t matter. My family and I were shocked that out of all years to not vote, she chose this one. My dad instantly helped my mom register to vote and educated her on California’s propositions, and the Presidential candidates. 

A lot of Americans like to use the excuse that their “vote doesn’t matter” and the response they normally get is “you have to vote because voting is your civic duty,” but over the past few years, we learned that it is more important than we thought. Many Americans feel as though what happens in politics doesn’t affect them in their day to day lives, and that is not entirely true. Yes, voting in either state, local, or national elections doesn’t affect how annoying your siblings can be, but it affects your overall livelihood in the world. There are many issues, like climate change, health care, education, and more, that need to be addressed, and with your voice and vote, you can make a difference. 

Think about a school election. The reason why you voted for a certain student to be president is that they have ideas and beliefs that align with yours. Although it doesn’t affect you as a person or your daily struggles, voting for that candidate can make an impact on your school community, which can then impact your livelihood. 

Although many believe voting in presidential and other national elections is pointless because their vote gets grouped in with the millions of others, it can still make an impact. The only way for change to be made is by voting for people who support your causes and your vote can join the millions of others who agree with you and help your candidate win. You can also make an impact on your community in state and local elections by voting for council members, mayors, and other local and state offices whose ideas and beliefs follow yours. These people that you choose can amplify your voice. 

It’s important to vote because the only voice people can fully rely on to support their causes is their own. Voting is not just your civic duty as an American citizen, but a duty to yourself to make changes in your community and the country.