During the last presidential election, only 51.4 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted in the United States.  We need to change that up just a bit.  It is time for the younger generation to start voting. Students of Brookdale should exercise their rights as American citizens.

Being a registered voter is a straightforward process that doesn’t take long. All you need is access to the internet and the eligibility needed to be able to vote.

Besides online, you can also register through mail or in person. The deadline to register to vote is 21 days before an election for all methods mentioned.  Voter registration info is found at https://vote.gov/register/nj/ and you can properly register for New Jersey at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register?ref=voteusa.

Voting for a leader is a very good thing to do for your country. You have that right, and you should always use it properly. Being educated on certain topics is a good start before you vote. Doing research before voting to find out which candidate suits your beliefs betters the country. Of course, it is anyone’s right to vote even if they are uneducated, but being educated is always a great thing.

One encouraging thing from the 2020 election is that voter turnout was the highest of any election of the 21st century;  66.8 percent of United States citizens, 18 years old and older voted.  Voter turnout was the highest for the age group of 65-74 year-olds, with 76 percent.  Senior citizens have been voting at much higher rates than younger people.

These are many of the reasons why Brookdale students should register and get out to vote.  Our futures will always depend on who we put in public office in any election year.