The 2024 election season will come to an end Tuesday as in-person voting will be finalized and the winners of both presidential and legislative races will be announced shortly thereafter. Since it is a student holiday, students that have not yet voted but are registered should take time out of their day to vote.

According to Tennessee State University, civic responsibility is defined as an active participation in the public life of a community in an informed, committed and constructive manner, with a focus on the common good. 

To many, voting is an incredibly important civic responsibility that should be exercised regardless of the size of the election. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 66.8% of eligible citizens voted in the last presidential election. Over 70 million Americans did not vote in an election in which slim majorities determined the winner in some areas.

The three main candidates for the upcoming presidential election include Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Kamala Harris and Green Party candidate Jill Stein. In Texas, a high-stakes race for the U.S. senate between Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Colin Allred is notable as well. 

Although it may be easy to vote based on public opinion, it’s important to vote based on their platform, or issues they seek to address if elected. If they previously served office, consider how their actions have aligned with their stances. The most important factors to consider are how these policies will affect yourself, your family, your community and the nation.

Voting is an incredibly important duty that every American citizen should exercise. The weight each vote carries can have impacts that last years or even decades. If you haven’t yet voted, carefully consider your options and go to the polls. Every vote matters.