Dear Kid,

In case you haven’t heard, there is an election coming up. Surprise!

For many college students, this is the first presidential election you’ve been able to vote in. And you need to vote. Seriously.

Hopefully, you’ve already sent in your absentee ballot, because (sad face) you won’t be home to vote in person.

Fact: Absentee votes count exactly the same way in-person votes count.

1. The next president of the United States will have a big impact on your life—you should help choose that person.
2. There are other important elections taking place—you should have a say in who holds those positions too.
3. You are (more or less) an adult. Adults have responsibilities and privileges. Voting is one.
4. Every vote counts. Each and every one.
5. If you don’t accept the responsibility of helping decide who’s in charge, you don’t earn the right to comment on the decisions those people make.
6. Voting doesn’t hurt. And it shouldn’t take long (especially if you use your absentee ballot).
7. You don’t have to skip class to vote. Or you can (well, you can’t, but some other kid could).
8. After next Tuesday, the voting commercials will end. Which is a good reason to celebrate by voting.
9. If you vote in person, you might get a really cool (not) sticker.
10. You get to feel silently superior to people who didn’t take advantage of their democratic right to vote.

Love, Mom