Many people claim that the millennial generation has no impact on politics. They claim that young people simply do not vote whether it be from apathy or distrust in government. The Economist's "Let's Set the World on Fire" claims that because of one reason or another, voter turnout for young people is at an all time low, therefore the millennial generation does not have a major effect on today's politics. However, this is far from the truth. As a millennial, I can say that we do care about politics but we are discouraged. This frustration is leading us to make a change for ourselves and future generations. Although young people have had low voter turnout in the past, that is changing and changing drastically. Universities, politicians, and more are going above and beyond trying to increase voter turnout in the millennial generation. The millennial generation, students in particular, face many hurdles trying to vote. Whether it be basic voter registration, voter I.D. laws or polling locations off campus, students come across many challenges trying to get to the polls. With organizations like Campus Vote Project, it is becoming easier and easier for students to be able to register and vote. The millennial generation has the possibility to make or break a political candidate. Whether it be through social media activism, to on site protests and events, or heading straight to the polls, the millennial generation, with over 90 million voices, has the greatest impact on American politics. 

It is fair to say that young people tend not to vote. In almost every past election, young people have the lowest voter turnout. In his article, "Millennials Love Bernie Sanders, But That May Not Be Enough" John Wagnor says that only 25% of young voters trusted the federal government. Wagnor goes on to explain that although Obama helped invigorate the youth vote, they still "accounted for only 22% of Iowa caucus goers in 2008" meaning young voter turnout is still low. The Economist's "Let's Set The World On Fire" says that "young people do care about politics: they just dislike it."  Although that is their argument as to why young people do not vote, I am arguing that that is the exact reason why. The millennial generation is tired of the political system that we've grown up in. Young people see the two party system as a division within our nation rather than a source of compromise, as it was intended to be. Kirsten Powers states in "Millennial Doesn't Mean Liberal" that over half of millennials identified as independents. She explains that this younger view is a stand against the two party system. Throughout her piece, Powers explains that millennials are the "on-demand" generation, meaning they have anything and everything on hand with the click of a button. This environment has caused the millennial generation to not accept American politics as it is today. The millennial generation sees multiple answers to our problems rather than a republican or democratic promoted program. Because of this major difference in opinion from previous generations, the millennial generation is already considerably affecting American politics. Ronald Brownstein in his article, "How Millennials Have Already Reshaped Politics" explains that the younger generations support of gay marriage and marijuana helped push for the legalization of the both hot button issues. Having the support of the massive millennial generation has already helped push new legislation through our system and will continue to do so through political campaigns. Whether voting or not, the millennial generation has put the heat on politicians to change American legislation and therefore changing American culture. Liz Nelson in her article "Getting the Snapchat Generation to the Polls" in USA Today, says that the millennial generation votes based on issues that directly affect them, like gun laws and renewable energy. Nelson explains that politicians should focus on issues important to youth voters, rather than trying to build their own reputation. However in his piece, "The Millennial Generation Prefers Collective Problem Solving Over Political Allegiance" David Schimke says that millennials "gravitate to specific personalities" rather than political parties. Schimke goes on to say that although millennials are drawn to, and tend to vote based on personality types, they can also detect "BS" from a candidate. They've grown up in a world full of political scandals and have grown a "BS meter" as a result. This distrust of politicians and the political system as a whole is exactly why the millennial generation is changing American politics. Young voters are voicing their opinion through every social website, blog, and social media and are now finally turning to the polls to make a true difference. If all 90 million millennials go out and vote during the 2016 presidential election, they have a real chance of getting their candidate into office. 

If you ask almost anyone today, they'll tell you that the millennial generation leans disproportionately democrat. In "The Millennial Generation Prefers Collective Problem Solving to Political Allegiance" David Schimke says that in the 2008 election, then Senator Barack Obama was scoring "positive approval ratings from a dizzying 75% of voters under 30" meaning the millennial generation helped get Barack Obama in the White House in 2008. He explains that this trend could "prove to be a jackpot" for the Democratic party, that "pays out" for years and years to come. In "How Millennials Have Already Reshaped Politics" Ronald Brownstein explains that the democratic party's alignment with the millennial generation's cultural views, gives the democrats an advantage over the republican party. This circles back to Liz Nelson's article in USA Today where she explains that young voters tend to vote based on specific issues rather than party alignment or candidate personalities. Because the democrats have shifted their views to match the younger generation's, they have practically secured the youth vote. In "How To Win a Culture War: Young Americans Are Pro-Drug, Pro-Gay, and Pro-Life" Hunter Jack explains that if conservatives want to be able to compete with the democrats, they are going to have to shift some of their basic ideologies to match the changing culture of America. Jack explains that since young people are the ones who have served as a tipping point in this change, they are the ones with a major say in the next election. He says that if conservatives will "choose their cultural battles carefully," meaning "align with youth culture" they can win back the youth vote. In "The GOP's Lost Generation: Millennials Decide Who Wins The Future" Craig Holland Dixon says that Obama "would have won the 2008 election without the millennial vote, but he might not have won without the Millennials' activism." This goes back to one of my main points; young people are changing the culture, therefore changing the politics. You cannot argue the fact that the millennial generation has the greatest impact on social media. From instagram and youtube, to twitter and tumblr, the millennial generation makes sure their voice is heard. Through hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter, #LoveWins or even #FeelTheBern, millennials come together from all over the world to stand together in support of their agenda. Even though it is not actual votes, the millennial generation's support online is enough to get what they want done. They spread awareness on a wide variety of topics that are important to them. They take the time to learn and educate themselves on every issue simply because they have the access. In her article, "Millennial Doesn't Mean Liberal" Kirsten Powers explains that the millennial generation has grown up in world of "information-on-demand" meaning, they have access to every article, news piece, video coverage, etc. of American politics. They have access to any and every piece of information they could want, and they can share it with the touch of a screen. This easy access to information helps millennials find and push the ideals they believe in. With a group mindset, and a generation of 90 million, millennials are able to collectively push for the policies, legislation, and candidates that they want, with or without going to the polls.

What I'm writing in this paper is that, although voter turnout for the younger generation tends to be very low, they still voice their support for their candidate very loudly. By putting their opinions out there with their hashtags and blogs and tweets, they are changing the American culture and therefore changing the American political system. They are able to shift political opinion without going to the polls and actually voting. They are able to support a candidate through social media rather than going to the polls and actually voting. The millennial generation is changing how we as a nation support our candidates, our policies, and our ideologies. The millennial generation has shown that if you get enough people to back you, you can be loud enough to get the politicians in Washington D.C. to actually listen to you, without ever having to go to the polls. That is not to say that millennials don't see voting as an important part of the political process. They just see social media, as an easier way to participate in politics. That's why people like Elizabeth Sohns are fighting for easier voting experiences. In "College Campus Voting Booths and Their Impact on Millennials" Sohns, explains that the younger generation has to go through so many steps in order to actually vote. They have to properly register, make sure they have the correct I.D. for their states and counties, and then they have to make sure that they can even vote in their campus' county. Sohns argues that because the millennial generation has grown up with everything at the touch of their hands, they should make the voting process similar. Sohns not only explains why we should change the voting experience for millennials, but how. She says that students should be allowed to use their student I.D.'s as a proper form of identification at the polls and that they should set up voting booths on college campuses so that students have an easy place to vote, rather than trying to find a ride to somewhere off campus and risk missing their classes. By having the voting process be easier, millennials will have an even bigger impact on politics than just hashtags. 

The millennial generation may not have the biggest voter turnout, but they do have the biggest voice. Through online campaigns and cultural shifts, the younger generation is able to directly change the youth culture and therefore change the outlook for the United States of America. By changing the nation's outlook on issues such as gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana, women's rights, minorities rights and more, the millennial generation is effectively changing how the population as a whole sees our nation's policies. By influencing the nation as a whole, the millennial generation is able to influence voters at the poll whether they are physically there or not. 

I hate writing this so much I want to cry I literally want to cry I want to fall over and cry because this is overwhelming I know I've had a long time to do this paper but I've had work from other classes in between and haven't had the time or the mental capacity to do it. I don't know how people can get through all 4 years of college if I can barely make it through one semester. This is sad and I want to cry. I don't know how I can add more to this paper because at this point it just seems like I'm rambling which I kind of am because I don't know what I am talking about. College is stressful. Life is stressful. I just need summer to be here fast or I don't know what I am going to do.  One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten One Two Three Four Five six seven eight nine ten 
