Yesterday I received my voter registration card in the mail, and I’m pretty excited. This will be my first time voting in a presidential election, and this time the outcome could actually have an effect on me and my future.

I know it is has been said over and over again why voting is important, and it has been approached from every angle. We have heard why women, African Americans and youth should vote, and the consequences of what will happen if we fail to vote. With all that being said, I will spare you the angled reasons why voting is important and simply argue: It is common sense.

Since elementary school, we have been taught that if we see a problem or feel strongly about an issue, we should voice our opinion. Then we should fix it or figure out a way to obtain a solution. We have also learned about the system of democracy since middle school. With all this knowledge, there is no reason why every person 18 and older shouldn’t be registered to vote.

The problems we see in our nation are not just going to magically go away. It is not okay to just sit there and pray the outcome is in your favor, based on the rest of the nation’s decision. It is not a lottery, and you cannot just spin the wheel and hope you hit the jackpot.

The common excuse I hear from those who do not want to vote or just choose not to vote is that neither of the candidates satisfy what they feel should make a president. Sorry, but this excuse holds no clout. No candidate is going to match up exactly with your values because we are all different. At least try to find what you are looking for in one of the candidates, and do not write them off so swiftly.

If you do the research and still do not find any results, then use the write-in option. I know these barely get any consideration, but at least you are exercising your right to vote, which is valuable. It does not matter who you vote for, please just do. Make your voice heard, even if you are not the majority. Vote for the simple sake of common sense.