With the biggest election in United States history just around the corner, knowing how to vote has never been more important. The ability to vote is a freedom largely taken for granted by US citizens with the voter turnout in the country not even close to 100%. That means that people who have the opportunity to vote do not vote.

Not only is there a lack of voters, but also most voters do not know how to vote in the sense that they don’t understand who’s running. What most people don’t know is that besides the presidential election, there are a variety of elections being held on the same day. From the national level all the way to the local level it is important to understand who is running for what office as it all trickles down back to us.

Many people believe that their vote has little to no impact to them, or when they do vote just guess on whoever they don’t know of. What they don’t realize is that this could have huge negative effects. We live in a country of checks and balances, and judges make up a third of that system along with the legislative branch making up another third. Not Voting in every type of election could result in an individual ,in any of these government offices, with immoral intentions taking office.

Judges are one of the most power figures of power in the country as they have control over sentences which can change lives. Yet, they are rarely ever challenged. It is often perceived that corruption lives only among the legislative branch of our government however that is not true. Throughout the history of this country, we hear of false sentences.

Thus, every vote matters and every election matters. Each political figure, local or national, in any branch, has the power to change lives. So be informed of the candidates because we as a country are blessed with the privilege to vote for our political figures, a right that others would fight for their lives for.

– Rafael Villa