To those people who say, “I like to stay out of politics”: this article is for you. Our democratic republic runs on politics—the cost of groceries, your health care, retirement finds, education. These are all surrounded by politics. You can choose not to vote, but that is choosing to hand your life over to those who do, in fact, vote.

 Fewer than one in five 18-29 year olds vote, according to the Civic Youth Organization.

 “Voting is the expression to the commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world,” wrote Sharon Salzberg, famous author and teacher. We live in a democratic society, which is built on the fundamental idea that people will vote, but only 35.9% of eligible voters voted in the last midterms. From 1972 to 2016, the fraction of youth ages 18 to 24 who reported voting in presidential elections decreased from 50 to 39 percent. Our generation is the lowest to vote even though we are the majority eligible, according to Pew Research Organization.

  With the midterms right around the corner, voting is the buzz throughout the streets. Democrats grab their swords and Republicans armor up: the battle has begun. As a young citizen, it is your responsibility to become educated and vote for the future of this country.