It’s no secret this election has been one of the most contentious elections in years, if not decades. From Secretary Clinton’s email scandals, to Mr. Trump’s every waking moment, the debates that have sparked from this are seemingly of the most unproductive nature.

“The policy issues of contention have really become secondary to the issues of personality and character,” explains Tim Casper, Vice President of Institutional Learning and Effectiveness at Madison College as well as being the government liaison for the school.

“The policy issues,” Casper went on to say, “that people want to be informed of and want to understand, like where candidates stand on particular issues, so they can make an informed decision in the election process have been overwhelmed by all these other issues related to the two candidates and their personal background and their personal story.”

For young voters, who are less experienced in politics, this makes picking a candidate whose policy is in line with their own values much harder and they may choose to stay away from the polls altogether this November 8.

However, according to Pew Research Center, the number of millennial voters is now as high as senior voters with both demographics making up 31 percent of the electorate. However, millennials are notorious for their very low election turnout.

This is what helps feed the problem of young people feeling their vote won’t count.

“The millennial population is now the largest population in the United States, but if they don’t vote at the same rate as the Baby Boomers the issues they want to have addressed might not get addressed,” explains Casper, “and there might be in some cases, different issues and different values that a younger voter bring when he, or she casts a ballot compared to an older voter when he, or she casts a ballot.”

For example, seniors tend to worry about issues that will affect tax burden, because they are on fixed incomes and need to protect that money from being depleted any faster. On the other hand, millennial voters might worry more about policies affecting education, because they themselves are still in college, or have young children who will be entering school for the first time.

“Policy makers won’t know that unless you’re participating in the political process,” says Casper.

Making things more difficult for young people trying to make a decision this election, is democratic favorite, First Lady Michelle Obama. She can be seen at rallies for Secretary Clinton warning people that a vote for a third party candidate is anywhere from a vote thrown away, to vote for Mr. Trump himself.

“Clearly the First Lady has as part of her agenda a desire to see Secretary Clinton elected President of the United States,” explains Casper, “so, if she believes that a young person casting a ballot for anybody other than Secretary Clinton is going to lead to a presidency of Mr. Trump, then she’s going to tell voters that.”

For young people who are frustrated, or even disillusioned by this push towards Secretary Clinton when they very much feel she doesn’t represent them, Casper has some advice for you.

“If young people feel that they don’t share that same set of values then you should participate in the process, but vote for a candidate who you feel best addressed your issues.”

Voting third party can be intimidating, but again, Casper encourages you to do so if that’s where your values are pointing.

“Even if that candidate doesn’t win,” explains Casper, “which is very likely with third party candidates and the history they’ve had in this country, enough votes to a third party candidate based on the issues that third party candidate is championing might get the Democrats and Republicans who do get elected to go, ‘huh? How do we address those issues so those become our voters the next time we’re up for election?’”

This very idea is what fuels our elections. It doesn’t have to be about choosing lesser of two evils, as so many people have described this year’s election, nor is a matter of either casting a vote that counts, or throwing it in the trash.

It’s about standing with your values and letting those who are elected know what they are and what you demand.

“I think any time you choose to participate in the process, you’re taking a very important step in demonstrating that you are committed to our democracy and that your participation in it informs what the issues are in terms of how they should be addressed,” says Casper.