For many people in this upcoming general election, it’s either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, who have both gained a lot of attention over the past year with their campaigns. Trump or Clinton. Period. However while so many people are so focused on just the presidential election, they may often ignore the local elections that are taking place in their very  own state.

We must remember that local policies influence state policies, and state policies influence federal policies. We have a long history in the United States of states and municipalities leading the way on issues from child labor to legal abortion to women’s suffrage. State and local victories provide the foundation for political movements by giving hope and momentum.

Even students who aren’t 18 by this Nov 8. should be more aware about local elections because these are the people running our cities in a few months. We are always told to use our vote and our voice to the best of our ability, but by not being aware of who is running in the election closest to us, we disregard this amazing right. As utopian as it sounds, the future of our co
mmunity, our schools and our neighborhood lies in our hands. The decisions we make to vote or not to vote will only end up affecting us in the long run.

To be fair, people may focus mainly on the presidential election because they believe local elections do not share the same level of importance, but they are very important.  Being able to vote is a privilege we citizens are not taking full advantage of. According to the Pew Research Center, there is a 35.5 percent of millennials who will actually take the initiative to vote, which will only make them 10 percent of the total electorate. Organizations like Rock the Vote specifically target youth voters. Just by visiting their site, we can learn so much about the elections.

In addition to being knowledgeable about the candidates and issues it’s equally important for eligible voters to actually go out and vote. Local elections such as the Gubernatorial Election and the State Senate District 20 Election will be held on Nov. 8. Carmel is located in District 20 so voting for who you want to be senator will be of great importance for citizens of our city. Being aware of who is running for these positions and voting when able to, creates more of an impact than people think, therefore be involved with your community and vote.