The election is right around the corner, and it’s getting down to the wire to decide which candidate will receive your vote. As the president of SJU College Republicans here on Hawk Hill, instead of convincing you why you should vote Republican, I want to appeal to those who are unsure if they should participate in this election because they do not know which way to lean. Being a Republican on this campus is met with very different responses. Most of the time, I can converse with other students about their political opinions, but sometimes others will cover up or take down our flyers. 

This election is unique; unlike other elections, we can now look at the candidates’ previous history in office. In comparing the information from when former President Donald Trump was in office to the past four years for Vice President Kamala Harris, ask: Who has been able to support you and your family the most? Before I could vote, my family was voting for Trump because, at that time (and even now), his policies benefited them more than those Joe Biden planned to implement, or even Hillary Clinton the first go-around. 

Now that I can finally vote and understand how a candidate’s policies will affect me in the future, that is what I take into consideration. I believe you do not have to be head over heels for a politician or agree with every point they make. When it comes down to it, Trump and Harris are very different candidates. This makes the decision very polarizing. When researching the candidates, it is essential to look at the most critical issues to their potential administration. 

I believe the only person who should decide who you vote for in this upcoming election is yourself, based on your own research. I try to avoid what other people — like influencers, celebrities and, sometimes, friends — say, because doing your own research is beneficial. So, let me leave you with this: Which candidate is going to secure a future for you now, for you after college and for our country as a whole?