On Nov. 8, over 69.2 million millennials will be eligible to vote. However, if trends continue, less than half of them will show up to cast their ballots this fall. In the 2012 presidential election, only 46 percent of eligible millennials said they voted, the worst turnout rate of any generation, according to the Pew Research Center.

In what is possibly the most polarizing election in U.S. history, this pattern needs to change. The future of our country is at stake and whoever is elected next month will undoubtedly affect the nation for years to come.

As a result, it is irresponsible for millennials to not register to vote. Regardless of party affiliation, a democracy is ineffective when half of those able to vote in any demographic do not vote. Voting gives us a voice—it is the most basic right and privilege that we are granted as citizens, and not voting in the presidential election or even local representatives wastes this opportunity.

More importantly, not voting disregards the privilege of democracy that we are given as American citizens. Thousands have sacrificed life and limb to protect this right, and many continue to put their lives on the line to come to this country and experience the freedoms
that living in the United States provides. Once they become citizens, among those freedoms is the ability to choose their leaders.

During one of the most polarizing times in American political history, we have the opportunity to affect the result of this election both on the national and local levels. We
have more information readily available at our fingertips than any other generation in history, and we have more to spread awareness about issues we care about.