With the presidential election just around the corner, many American voters — or rather, potential non-voters — have struggled to passionately back either of the two candidates. But this isn’t a horse race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris: It might just be a question of survival.

This election isn’t about whether you like Harris. It’s about the future of reproductive freedom, LGBTQI+ rights, and climate justice. As the editors of Scientific American recently put it, “The U.S. faces two futures. In one, the new president offers the country better prospects, relying on science, solid evidence and the willingness to learn from experience…. In the other future, the new president endangers public health and safety and rejects evidence, preferring instead nonsensical conspiracy fantasies.”

Of course, if elected, Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, must be held accountable, especially given Harris’ track record of supporting the war on drugs and overreaching “tough on crime” policies that have overwhelmingly targeted Black and brown communities. But any meaningful reform to the carceral system and environmental policy can only happen if they are elected to office. The alternative — another Trump presidency — would be disastrous for our collective future.

In this election, it’s vital you make your vote count or your inaction will speak for you. Eighty  million registered voters did not cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, nearly half of them citing a disinterest in politics or “not liking the candidates” as their main reason for not participating, according to NPR and the Medill School. These non-voters in turn made the election far closer than it needed to be: President Joe Biden won by just over 7 million votes, about one-tenth of the number of non-voters.

Who you vote for will inform the conditions in which LGBTQI+, reproductive rights, environmental, immigrant, and progressive advocacy organizers will push for meaningful reform. It will shape future policy and institutions like the Supreme Court. Still not convinced? Below, we’ve answered some of your questions about voter apathy and voting strategically.

What if you’re not here for Harris?

For young people frustrated with Biden’s stance on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, the Harris-Walz ticket isn’t an instant solution. But your vote could give Democrats more sway in Congress, which could unlock opportunities to implement future progressive policies ranging from the war to body autonomy to Supreme Court reform.

Here, every vote matters. Consider the 2020 election, which gave Democrats the White House in addition to both chambers of Congress. However, Republicans picked up seats in the House of Representatives and eventually took it over in 2022’s House elections, reflecting the razor's edge that could be tilted by this (and every subsequent) election.

Why is voting so crucial in 2024?

Each election ought to represent the interests of this diverse population — the only way to ensure this is to go out and vote. 

Eight million Gen Zers have become eligible to vote since the last election, joining over 32 million other young people as part of a burgeoning voting bloc that includes, yes, “The Swiftie Vote.” How Gen Z represents itself during this election will set the tone for a lot going forward. How do you want to make your vote felt?

Why don’t Americans vote?

Voter apathy has existed for generations, but recent studies show the same root cause: Registered voters consistently express low levels of satisfaction with the available candidates.

They do still tend to go to the polls, though — 94 percent of them voted in 2020, according to a 2022 Pew Research report. However, that figure only represents 63 percent of Americans of voting age, meaning that over a third of would-be voters simply didn’t participate. Many of them “think voting doesn’t matter or isn’t worth their time,” according to FiveThirtyEight. Why?

In the past, some Americans reported being too busy or a conflicting schedule keeping them from the polls. There’s also voter suppression at play, which can make the task of voting an insurmountable challenge.

But there are things you can do. Mail-in voting and early voting, for example, are broadly available alternatives to in-person casting, allowing all Americans to make their voice heard.

Should you vote strategically?

Strategic voting (or tactical voting) is a term that describes a voter supporting a candidate not because of their sincere preference but to prevent an undesirable outcome. 

As divisive as this voting tactic sounds, strategic voting is an inevitability with America’s current (and functionally defunct) two-party system.

Whether you identify with certain policy areas of a specific party, or you are simply opposed to the hate-mongering ideals of one candidate in particular, you should use your vote — no matter what.