Alivia Welch
\nStaff Writer<\/span><\/p>\n

Each primary voting year, specifically November, is a time when eligible voters take the time to exercise their right to vote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In my opinion, it is one of the few ways you can feel powerful and voice your opinion without actually speaking.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people of color in the South, particularly African-Americans, were not able to vote despite the 15<\/span>th<\/span> Amendment which in brief states, \u201cCitizens shall not be denied or abridged the right to vote based on their race, color or previous condition of servitude in the U.S.\u201d, until the 1965 Voting Rights Act was implemented to give <\/span>African-American voting rights<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You might ask, why is this important information to know now? Well, this was only about 60 years ago and we all know someone in their sixties, whether it be our parents, grandparents, family members or others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a young adult, we often feel our vote does not matter or make a difference, but in the year of 2016, millennials (ages 20-35), made up 27 percent of all eligible voters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know you\u2019re probably thinking that 27 percent is not a lot, but this number was very close to the same amount of Baby Boomers (ages 52-70), who lead the electoral votes consecutively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides the facts listed above, we (Millennials) and Post Millennials (ages 18-19), are among the most impacted by the leaders in office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n