Californians are some of the most powerful people in the world. In fact, the youth of California has the power to shape the world we live in today.

That’s why every election year in this country there is a major push for the youth to flex their power and vote. However, ever since 18-year-olds obtained the right to vote in 1972, fewer and fewer young people have made their way to the ballot box.

If this percentage is compared to grade scales that most professors use in their classes, it would be failing, unless the grading curve was set by intelligent lemurs.

An estimate by Project Vote Smart, a nonpartisan youth-run organization, puts the number of 18 to 25 year-olds at about 26,110,000 people nationwide.

Obviously trust is one of the major factors that spurn young voters away from the polls. It can be hard to convince anyone to vote for individual candidates when they have not gained trust.

Sometimes the major issues that candidates say will be a major priority before the election become somewhat skewed once they take that oath of office. This is in no way an excuse for not voting. During the decades after this country was initially founded, some majorities, most minorities and women didn’t even have the right to vote.

It’s amazing to imagine what this county would be like today had there been an even voting playing field during the first 100 years of the United States.

It’s time to take a step forward into the new century. Vote. It is the one power that Americans can use to shape the future of this country. Even if the candidates are not up to your standards, you can always write in a vote for your mom or dad.