Each presidential election offers American citizens the unique opportunity to fulfill a sacred civic duty. By casting ballots in this election, voters will make their voices heard and determine which leader will guide our country forward.

In a unanimous decision of 13-0, the Kentucky Kernel editorial board affirmed their belief that young voters should practice their civic duty by voting in the upcoming election. 

In voting, you lose nothing. In failing to vote, you risk everything you take for granted.

Yet, come Election Day, many people will fail to show up to the voting booths. A Statista Research Department survey found that only 55% of people aged between 18 and 29 voted in the previous presidential election.

While some abstain from voting because of convictions against both candidates, others simply do so because they disregard their civic responsibility. The latter choice disrespects the courageous leaders who bravely secured this precious right and neglect the opportunity to make necessary change possible. 

From the American Revolution to the modern civil rights movement, Americans have bravely risked or sacrificed their lives to obtain the freedom we take for granted today.

Our nation was founded by settlers who fled the oppressive control of the British Parliament that failed to provide them with the rights and representation afforded to British citizens. The nation only recognized America’s independence after years of battle and bloodshed. 

However, the fight for voting rights didn’t end there. While the Constitution guaranteed many rights, it did not ensure that all Americans had the freedom to vote. Thus, in the following centuries, minority groups like African Americans and women were forced to endure violence and ridicule as they struggled tirelessly to obtain this right. 

In the Women’s Suffrage Movement, activists advocated for women’s right to vote until the 19th Amendment was ratified. Through this amendment, the government could no longer exclude women from putting their political beliefs into action at the voting booth. 

Thanks to their courageous efforts, every American citizen can now exercise their civic duty by casting a ballot on Election Day. 

When Americans fail to perform this responsibility, they also overlook the vital role that voting plays in preserving our democracy and guiding our country toward progress. 

It’s a choice that can determine where our nation sends American troops, whether or not the rights of minority groups are protected and whether a lower-class family can afford to pay when rent is due. 

It provides Americans with the opportunity to act on the issues they care about most and hold their leaders accountable.

Each presidential candidate’s platform proposes vastly differing policies. The elected candidate will enact ones that impact the lives of people at the domestic and international levels. 

To properly decide which candidate is worthy, we must enter the voting booth as informed citizens. We must educate ourselves by engaging with the news, having civil conversations with those who hold differing views and seeking out any opportunity to improve our understanding of issues and the solutions needed to address them. 

Our nation’s history should inspire us to utilize this election as a vital opportunity to guide our country into a brighter future. 

Voting is a choice that allows every citizen to make their voice heard in the voting booths.  

American settlers recognized this truth when they endured brutal policies and were silenced by the British Parliament. Civil rights leaders and suffragettes recognized this as they endured dehumanizing treatment from the government and its constituents.

Yet, both groups persisted in their fight to achieve the fundamental freedom which a healthy democracy is built upon. 

The freedom to vote is the fragile line that separates a free democracy from a tyrannical government. 

Upholding our civic duty by voting is much more than a task to check off the list. It’s a monumental responsibility that required centuries of courageous action to obtain. It’s an opportunity that countless Americans throughout history longed to fulfill. Furthermore, it’s a moral obligation as we help determine which leader’s policies will guarantee the betterment of our society. 

The change we want can’t be found through inaction. It can’t be found through merely complaining or bickering about the problems we face. It requires immediate action from every single one of us. 

So, when the time comes to vote, don’t disregard this civic obligation. Find the nearest voting booth and make your voice heard.