Tuesday, November 8th is a date that political fanatics and everyday citizens alike are well familiar with. The impending election day of the year 2016 is almost tangible, and the race for the various levels of government is only heating up in intensity, closeness, and seriousness. The cards that the United States has been dealt on the presidential front have been a rather poor hand; the candidates that the two-party system have chosen put the voting populous in a rather sticky situation.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are among the most frequently discussed people in America, if not the entire world. Whether it be Donald Trump’s controversial stance on immigration reform or Hillary Clinton’s role in Benghazi and her email scandal, people are certainly talking about these individuals- one of whom will soon become the future President of the United States. The corrupted view of politics and perceived ineffectiveness of the democratic system is heightened by these conflicting candidates butting heads in the race for a prized role as leader of the free world.

As an intern with a local Congressman and a candidate for State representative, I find the divided politics increasingly worrisome with the “lower level” local officials. Registered voters assume that the party lines continue on the polarization and radical views that the presidential candidates have been publicizing. However, with my experience, the views of most of these state-based or Congressional leaders contrast sharply with those in the news.   Just because a candidate classifies himself as a Democrat does not indicate that the he or she shares the identical views to Hillary Clinton. While party loyalty is a defining trait within the two party system, it is not a strict rule. On the local level candidates often adopt more moderate and independent views that accommodate to the differing perspectives of the diverse public.

Clinton and Trump are familiar faces to news readers or anyone who has consumed any type of news in the past two years.  With their arguable stances and questionable actions, it can be easy to grow perplexed with which candidate to favor when November rolls around.

Remember that these party lines may offer generalizations of their other party members, but that the status as a Democrat or Republican is not a binding one.  A brief search on the internet can take minutes and provide valuable information on local candidates, and a single vote can impact their candidacy. While most high school students do not have the opportunity to vote, many seniors are an exception.  Even if you are not a registered voter, due to age or other factors, it is important to keep up with politics and the happenings in the modern day in order to understand the world around you.