Some of us may now know that college is quite expensive, but your vote for a presidential candidate that supports educational funding could make your college education more affordable.
Throughout history, voting has been a way individuals state where they stand on certain issues. It was also a way to let your voice be heard, but does voting today have that same meaning?
According to a study conducted by bipartisanpolicy.org, the United States voting turnout in 2008 was 62.3 percent and decreased to 57.5 percent in 2012. These figures suggest people just don’t think elections matter.
However, presidential elections matter for two reasons: education and employment.
Who gets voted into office determines how much funding goes toward colleges as well as scholarships and financial aid. College isn’t the only part of the educational system that is affected by who is elected. Our entire public education system is largely federally funded. To have a good education system, we should vote for a candidate who supports public education funding.
Employment usually follows after a person achieves a college degree. However, the job market is not always in the best shape, which causes unemployment to increase as years go on. If the person elected into office had some ways to improve the job market and provide more jobs for the unemployed, fewer people would be poor or homeless.
The job market depends on the government and the government in turn depends on the leadership of the president to lead and guide it.
Researching candidates can be a strenuous process, but it doesn’t have to be. An easy way to better educate yourself on all of the candidates for the 2016 presidential election is to go to www.ontheissue.org. This website has pictures of all the candidates, and if you click on their pictures, the website will take you to a page where it states what their views are on modern issues.
Voting is a terrific opportunity to stand up for what you believe.
Jasmine Rodriguez, a sophomore nursing major from Los Angeles, said she is going to vote because she wants a say in politics.
She said elections matter because “…it is going to be who is running our country. We don’t want someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.”
Go out, register to vote and make a stand for your education and future career.
