It really drives me crazy when I hear my peers on campus make statements like these: “Oh, my vote doesn’t even matter…,” “I don’t even understand politics,” “Who cares about stupid politics?” or “Doesn’t matter who you vote for, politicians never get anything done anyways.”

Staying educated and up to date on current events at the local, state, national and global level actually should matter to each and every one of us here at Eastern.

With the click of a button, students can watch the news or presidential debates on TV to learn more about the current candidates.

If they are too busy or think the debates are pointless and just full of political jibberish, then students can easily research candidates.

Students should google these candidates and research their stances on important issues that affect every single one of us on campus.

Don’t just listen to what you’re seeing on FOX News or MSNBC.

Make a list of the issues that matter the most to you and see where the candidates stand on them.

Actually try to figure out which candidate represents your beliefs and morals, and determine who would be the best leader for the United States.

In the 2012 election, only 58.5 percent of voters aged 18-24 came out to the polls on Election Day.

In comparison, 78 percent of voters 75 years and older cast their ballots on Election Day.

That is why issues that affect the elderly are being heard. They stay up to date on issues and cast their ballots.

This is unlike our uneducated generation that doesn’t care about politics or who is running our government, so our opinions on issues like tuition costs, map grants, and student loans aren’t being heard by our leaders.

Everyone needs to stay informed on who could possibly win the 2016 election and possibly change our country and lives for the worse, or hopefully for the better.

It’s all up to our generation to put in the time to educate ourselves on who we are voting for next November.

Students need to do the research themselves so they aren’t influenced by peers or maybe even their families back at home.

I believe students should vote for the candidate that they have the most confidence in, and who they believe will address the issues that matter the most to them.

Eastern students need to wake up and become an educated and more active generation in the world of politics.

We choose what kind of country we live in, we choose our leaders, and we can cast the votes that determine the direction our country will go in the future.

Don’t just sit back and watch. Be the deciding factor in the presidential election of 2016.

Change is coming in the United States, and it’s up to us to decide what kind of change it will be.

I can’t emphasize the importance of actually watching the news, or at least know what is going on in our world.

Listen to what these candidates plan on doing if they are elected president of the United States.

Don’t be that person on campus that simply just “doesn’t give a crap” about politics. We are young adults now.

It’s time to realize that and grow up, and be contributing citizens in this critical time in America.

On October 26 through October 30, there will be a voter registration drive on campus.

Students can register now and even vote in the primaries in March of 2016, to determine their party’s candidate for president.

The Voter Registration Drive will be held at a variety of different places on Eastern’s campus.

Lynnsey Veach is a sophomore journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or lmveach@eiu.edu.