The 2016 Presidential Election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is going to be “yuuuugge,” as is every presidential election. However, that can not be said for voter turnout of people ages 18-24. This age bracket performs the poorest in exercising the constitutional right to vote. In the 2012 presidential election, the voter turnout rate for people 18-24 was only 42.1 percent while the rate for ages 65 and over was 71.9 percent. The data from the U.S. Census Bureau clearly states that the older you are, the more likely you are to vote. The United States has one of the lowest overall turnout rates in the world, but young adults are the least likely to vote compared to older Americans. All eyes are on the 2016 Presidential Election this year, including more young people. This election has done a particularly better job this year at getting the younger generation involved in the voting process than in years past.

Not only is it important to know why one should vote, but it's also important to have an understanding for how the country elects our president. So, let’s start by explaining how voting works and the Electoral College. In each state and Washington DC, a number of representatives are allowed to be elected based on the statewide population. These representatives are called electors. The job of the elector is to cast the presidential vote in their voting district.The electors don't give their official presidential vote until the popular vote in their state has been collected and counted. Electors are usually in favor of the candidate their state votes for but not always. In a presidential election, the number of Electoral College votes required for the President to win is 270 out of the 538 electors total in the country. As crucial as the Electoral College Vote is for the presidential candidate to win, the popular vote is also very important as it shows how well liked or unliked a candidate may be and gives them an idea where they stand with the people.

Every presidential election cycle, the candidates sound their voices on the debate stage about the issues, run campaign commercials, and Americans decide who will be the next president for the upcoming four years. However, this year has caught the attention of many Americans, both young and young-at-heart, partly because the debates have been more like a reality TV show. Another aspect of the election is that the spotlight has been on the youth because of more discussion among the candidates about problems such as college debt and education. Aside from hearing personal attacks and scandals, there are issues to be discussed that pertain to all ages, including the young. This year’s election has brought some much deserved attention to the youth. Former presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, built his campaign on attracting younger voters. Bernie Sanders discussed the issue of college expenses, where he stated that public colleges and universities should be free to students. In addition, he also expressed the idea of a national healthcare system. The liberal ideas appealed to young voters the most, and Bernie Sanders was backed by the younger generation the most. According to The Washington Post, two million more people, ages 18-24 voted for Mr. Sanders in the primaries and caucuses than youth votes for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump combined. Even though Bernie Sanders is no longer in the race for the White House, he has opened the door for discussion about the issues that are important to young Americans. 

 On the flip side, more people have been paying more attention to this year's presidential election for the wrong reasons. While it may seem entertaining to witness what Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton say, whether it be on stage or in 3 A.M tweets, the issues are what concerns us as a country. When the next presidential election comes around, younger Americans must be involved in the political process so that Washington can hear our voices.