As the voting for the election starts ramping up, candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are making sure to lock in the rest of the voters. One of the ways they’ve chosen to encourage their base, is to attack each other via social media and television ads.

These personal attacks are just drops in the ocean of insults that have been thrown throughout the course of the 2016 presidential election.

Because of the hostile and combative nature of this election, it is important for voters to formulate their own opinion based on facts. More opinions and rumors have floated around during this campaign than seen in recent history.

Prior to voting, the electorate should do their own research on each candidate so they are knowledgeable about their plans for the future of America.

The world of politics is packed full with ignorance and speculation, and in the age of social media, rumors run wild about highly publicized people.

When it comes to Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton, there has been more inaccurate information thrown around about each respective candidate than this generation has ever witnessed, and now more than ever, it is important to search for the truth so unique opinions can be formed. Opinion has been the basis of politics since it began, and to be a working part of American society, the people who make up the society must be educated.

Too many times young people make decisions based on the words of their parents, friends, teachers and other figures — and this needs to stop. When a vote is cast, it is imperative that it is sent by an informed voter who has made the decision based on his or her own research.

Individuality is a key element of politics. After a person has researched their options, they can then form an opinion that is different from everybody else’s, and by doing this they are demonstrating their ability to be an effective American.

When the United States was founded, one of the key points was to create a government by the people and for the people, but when people vote uninformed, they are taking away their ability to speak on behalf of their preferred beliefs.

By being ignorant, individuals subject themselves to standing for something that they know nothing about, and in the long run, this may hurt them. All of this happens due to lack of knowledge, and this is detrimental when it comes to voting for political figures that will govern the country in the future.

In the midst of everything happening in the world, something that many people want is to be heard. Voting is one of the best ways to speak out as a citizen, and doing so can create a chain effect that can make the world better for everyone.

If somebody knows who they’re voting for and why they’re voting for this person, they can cast a vote that they believe will improve their life, and if they vote intelligently, others around them will follow suit. That is the basis of politics.

Knowing about the candidates running for political positions allows the society to vote for people that they believe will stand for them. If they fail to do this, they have no power over their future, seeing as they choose to have no voice in who governs them.

America as a country prides itself on being one of the best — if not the best — place on earth. However, the population does not live up to this standard when being apathetic and ignorant.

To be the best, citizens must get active, become involved, and educate themselves so they can form intelligent and unique opinions. Voters should remember that they are representing America as a whole with their capacity of knowledge. They should vote smart and be an individual. It affects everyone.