Lauryn's Thoughts on Voting

Good evening, fellow readers! Hows it goin? How about them Lions?
     OK, OK, OK, I will get right to the point. It's election time! I know, I know! Everyone and their mother is super sick of hearing about it. And this year, we elect a new person to lead our country. So who do you pick? Well, I am not going to tell you. Why? Because, frankly it is not my job to tell you who to vote for, that is your choice. And that is what I want to talk about.
     I have personally seen it in my life, where people think that because the person has a disability, they should be told who to vote for, and then the individuals goes along with it. NO! That is like so wrong on so many levels. They think that said individuals cannot make that choice on their own. And some cannot. But for the most part they can. As a citizen of this great nation, it is your right and privilege to vote for the candidate you feel is right for the job.
     So how in the world do you make such an important decision? I will tell you. You listen. Listen to EVERYTHING. People say that we shouldn't listen to mainstream media because they only dig up the bad and make each candidate look like the ring leader of a circus with all this continuous mudslinging and other garbage. But, here's the thing, there is truth behind everything. Stereotypes by definition are opinions based on fact. Rumors start with some truth behind them. So even though every rumor may or may not be true, it’s there for a reason and you need to listen to it. Not to mention that the memes and edited video clips are slightly funny. I mean come on, did you see Alec Baldwin’s impersonation of Donald Trump on SNL last week? HILARIOUS!
     Another thing you can do is talk to different people. Talk to your parents, friends, grandparents, teachers, neighbors. Gather different opinions on the topic and if you do not under an issue, ask. Then ask yourself how you personally feel about their opinions.
     Research. PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THE INTERNET! USE IT! Look up the candidates running and read up on their stances on certain issues. Remember, the Democrat and Republican parties are the two main parties but there are third party candidates as well who are running. You do not need to vote for a mainstream candidate. There are also plenty of detailed quizzes that can help you decide which candidate you should choose. The quiz shouldn't be your main deciding factor, but it can at least give you some sort of an idea as to where to start your research.
     Watch. Watch the news, and the debates. That is where you will get a lot of your information on the main two candidates. It will also show you how they carry themselves in the public eye. If you think about it, the President is a highly public job. You must conduct yourself with poise style and class. Find out if they are a decent public speaker, or if they have a good public game face. How a leader conducts themselves  in society is a big part of the job. But it is not everything.
     Lastly, register. Get out there and register to vote. It is so important. My first election was back in 2008 when President Obama was first elected. It was an important election and this one is too. You could see the first woman President. You could also see a non politician business man become our leader.
     Get out there on November 8th and vote! Whatever people are telling you, your vote does matter! And when you do vote, wear your “I voted today” sticker with pride, because you did it! You did your civic duty to your country. That is the best thing you can do, vote! Good luck and God bless America!