As we approach the 2016 presidential election, we as a country, are seeing a rather large split in political views. For many Americans, they have given their full support for Hilary Clinton, but there is also a large support for Donald Trump. However, we have also seen a large number of Americans who are unsure if they will vote for president at all.

As a citizen who cannot vote in this year’s election, I say that it is extremely important to cast your vote for president on November 8th. Whether you vote for Clinton, Trump, or a third party candidate, voting in this election is key for the United States.

The past year has been a wild rollercoaster for Americans, with back and forth drama between both presidential party candidates. As a result, people are skeptical to vote in the election. However, that should not be a reason not to vote. Voting is a civic duty for Americans, and if people choose to not do that, they aren’t doing their job as Americans.

In this election, if there is anything that these candidates agree on, it is that all Americans should go out and vote on election day. Voting isn’t something that should be taken lightly. We live in a country that gives us the great right to elect our government officials, so Americans should vote.

Different Americans fought for years and years to earn their right to vote, and this privilege should never be taken for granted. In fact, there are still people in other countries fighting for this privilege. Those who can vote should consider themselves lucky.

In an election so polarized, Americans can still vote for whoever they want. If someone voted for a different candidate in the primaries, they are still free to vote for them for the presidential election. Every ballot has a write in option, if voters don’t like their options on the ballot, a write in vote is still a vote.

Voting is a chance for American to make a change for their country. If someone doesn’t like how a president does their job, by voting they are doing everything in their power to make a change. The electoral college can be swayed one way or another depending on just a few votes, so every American plays a role in the outcome of the election.

For example, in the 2000 election, Al Gore defeated George W. Bush in the popular vote for the presidency. However, the vote in Florida was extremely close, as there had to be a recount to make sure the votes were counted correctly. It later came out that Bush won the vote in Florida, thus giving him the electoral college votes, and thus giving him the presidency. Since it had been determined by just a small amount of votes, every Florida voter played an extremely important role in the outcome of the election.

What if some of those voters decided to stay home that day and leave the voting for everyone else? The U.S. could have seen a different president in 2000.

In the end, it is a civic duty for Americans to vote in the 2016 election. We are privileged with the right to vote, so if you can, vote on November 8th.