myHIN Blog

November 02, 2014

Let Your Voice Be Heard

There was an uproar amongst young people in the past 2 presidential elections. Many took to social media and endorsed their particular candidates. Unfortunately, after the last election many young people stopped following what’s going on.

On the radio, they are claiming that it is important to vote in your local elections, but why? It is your right as a citizen of the United States of America. America presents the opportunity for you to voice your opinion via mid-term, local and national elections. To finally have a say in the laws that are affecting your community, it is important to exercise your right to vote. The downside to this is that often times we millennials don’t know and frankly don’t care what is going in politics.

The goal of this piece is not to sway your vote in any way! The point is to get you to use your voice and get engaged to what is going on around you. Did you know that you have access to a sample ballot before you go to the polls? This is something that I didn’t know until I was walking up to the voting station. I was able to see what was on the ballot and have even look up the platforms of the candidate running. The big kicker to me was that there was a question of waiving a persons right to trial by jury here in North Carolina.

The ballot reads: “Constitutional amendment providing that a person accused of any criminal offense for which the State is not seeking a sentence of death in superior court may, in writing or on the record in court and with the consent of the trial judge, waive the person's right to a trial by jury”. For or Against.

I know that politics is one of the things you don’t normally bring about in conversation, but that is not what this is about. It doesn’t matter who you vote for. Just as long as you do it and know the issues.

Make sure to tell your friends that they cannot vote at Talley this election. And most importantly, make sure to tell your friends to vote!

Things to remember:

It is important to vote because people have died and fought for this right
It’s important to stay current on what’s affecting your neighborhood (health, education, jobs, etc.)
Despite what you may think. YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

Local voting locations near NCSU:

Students that live in North Hall will vote at Brooks Avenue Church of Christ. The address for that location is 700 Brooks Ave. Raleigh, NC 27607
Most residence halls will be voting at Freedom Temple at 615 Royal St., Raleigh, NC 27607.

To find other station’s in your area check out https://www.ncsbe.gov/webapps/voter_search/