• You must be registered in order to vote in primaries and general elections: 

This also goes for all state-wide and local elections, but before heading to the polls in search of that patriotic “I Voted” sticker, eligible citizens must be registered. 

You can pre-register as early as 16 years old. Have either your Florida License, Permit, Identification Card, or Social Security Number and you’ll be ready to fill out a short form and be on your merry way. 

• Florida is a closed primary state: 

Florida is one of the 12 US states to have closed primaries. This means citizens may only vote in a party’s primary if they are registered members of that party prior to election day; this rule excludes independents and non-affiliates from participating. 

Although this is just another hoop to jump through, the fewer people going out to participate, the less those elected represent their constituents. Your vote is your voice, use it. 

• Don’t be a potato: 

America has one of the lowest voting participation at a mere 55.7%.* Compared to Sweden’s 82.6% or South Korea’s 77.92%, America isn’t as democratic as it claims to be. 

If you chose to be a part of the half that can but does not vote, know that decisions are being made for you. Without voting, citizens have little influence over politicians and as a wise Mr. Domingo Montenegro might say, “Don’t be a potato!” It may seem easy to stay home that one day, but once others have voted for their pick, the winner’s term has been set and the chance for you to approve or dissent their work won’t come until the next election in a few years.

• Every! Voice! Matters!:

You may think, I’m only one person I don’t make a difference, but if everyone thought like that we would never see progress. 

By making anti-corruption policy and expanding our influence one of your political priorities and topics of advocacy, we the people remind politicians that they work for us. Take pride in participating in the system that is democracy. 

In a mainly immigrant community, many of our family, friends, and neighbors may not be citizens themselves. Voting isn’t only a right, but a privilege, so vote for those who can’t.

• We are the future:

As students and as the younger generation, we will be facing the implications of today’s decisions. Millennials, generation z, and generation x are the youngest voters and will be seeing and experiencing many of the longterm effects of policies passed by our elected officials today. In 2016 these three generations outvoted baby boomers for the first time** and if this trend continues those that will lead the future will actually get to decide what kind of future they want to live in.

Feature Photo Credit: Sabrina Martinez