The Iowa caucuses were nearly two months ago. Super Tuesday is a distant memory, but the election is far from over.

Party nominees will not be officially declared until July, with many pundits speculating a potential contested convention on the Republican side.

On one hand, we are proud of the student body’s participation and concern for the upcoming election. We have a campus full of passionate students who know it is their civic responsibility to vote.

Never before has going to the polls been more important.

We are proud of Simpson as a hub for political action. Our students shine on both sides of the aisle, working for candidates based on their shared beliefs and passion for the important issues.

We don’t have a crystal ball, but if we did, we could see a lot of indecision and upheaval in the future. No matter who wins the upcoming election, things are going to change and people are going to feel strongly one way or the other.

We have to question if people vote for the best candidate or if they vote for whom their party told them to vote for. Do you know the stance your selected candidate has on the issues that matter to our generation? How does he or she feel about student debt? Higher education? Foreign policy?

Their stances are independent of what their party believes; they have their own separate beliefs.

In less than seven months, it will be time for the presidential election. Instead of turning a blind eye to the issues, take time to check facts. Find trusted sources and seek out voting records. Evaluate your stance on issues, and evaluate each candidate’s stance.

You should ask yourself which person your beliefs more closely align with, not which political party your beliefs align with.

This should not be a competition for Americans about which party is the ultimate winner. We vote and have a democracy to improve our country. Vote for a candidate because you believe in his or her message.

Don’t just vote to vote. Be an educated voter. Make your vote count.