In 1971, the United States Senate voted in favor of the proposed amendment to lower voting age to 18. In just over two months, which happened to be the shortest period of time for any amendment in U.S. history, the necessary state legislatures ratified the 26th Amendment, and President Nixon signed it into law that July.

During World War II President Roosevelt lowered the minimum age for the military draft age to 18, at a time when the minimum voting age (which was determined by the individual states) had normally been 21.

“Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” became a common slogan for youth voting rights, and in 1943 Georgia became the first state to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. Today, you can vote in the primaries at the age of 17 in 21 states. However, even more states are considering this change. This new “voting age” affects those 17 year olds who will have tuned 18 by the time of the general election. 

Lowering the voting age for the primary election will no doubt give certain candidates the upward advantage. So far polls have shown that millennial voters of both Democratic and Republican parties are leaning toward anti-establishment candidates, these include Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and businessman Donald Trump.

Bernie Sanders appeals to millennials with his socialist policies. There are even common phrases associated with Senator Sanders, like “Bernie is Bae” and “Feel the Bern.” Nick Kowalczyk, a 29 year old from Atlanta said, “Bernie Sanders uses socialism in the way it makes sense, which is just good, common, moral, ethical policy.”

Two of the main socialist ideas Sanders looks towards are free education and free healthcare. Donald Trump appeals to millennials with his expressive tone and openness. He has said many things throughout his time on The Apprentice as well as after he announced his candidacy.

Some of these things have offended people and others have seemed to inspire people. Trump has stated, “courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the ability to act effectively, in spite of fear,” and “nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.”

Although many young people seem to care about this election, only 20 percent considered themselves “politically engaged and active.” This number has gone down from 25 percent in fall of 2011. Less than half the millennials said they were following the presidential race very, or even somewhat, closely.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, young voters that were aged 18 to 24 were the only group to show a statistically significant increase in turnout in 2008, 49 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds voted, which is the second highest voting percentage in history.

I was always told growing up that when I turned 18 I would get to vote, and this is a right that not everyone else has in the world. Since I turned 18 in 2013, I have voted three times in small local elections, now this year I will be able to vote for president for the first time.

I am so excited to vote for a presidential candidate, because my vote can make a difference. Approximately 235 million people are of voting age in the United States. Now imagine if even 10 percent decided that their one vote would not matter. That would be more than 23 million votes!

Your vote does make a difference and you should enjoy your rights that others may not have. There are many countries where women, or sometimes anyone, cannot vote at all. There are also countries where people can vote for smaller elections but not for the leader of their country. Some of these countries include Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon.

All Americans since 1971 have had to wait until the age of 18 to vote. I believe that the voting age should remain 18, and if you are not of age, you are not to vote. We, as Americans, are considered adults at age 18. This age allows us to vote, buy lottery tickets, get tattoos, rent an apartment, skydive and bungee jump. These few things are among a long list of things that we can do once we turn 18.

As an American I encourage everyone to go out and give their vote during the 2016 presidential election!