Everyone’s first time is undoubtedly an exciting experience; as high school juniors and seniors, many of us are anxiously waiting for our christening into adulthood. But we don’t want to just throw our first time away to any old man with half a billion dollars, so most of us are waiting for just the right person. We are analyzing, researching, and sizing up–I mean, it’s a pivotal decision, especially for Democrats. 

That’s right, young citizens are eager to lose their voting virginity, but some of us are experiencing performance anxiety. While young and old Republicans alike have pretty much found their 2020 soulmate, young Democrats are a hop to the left of even their progressive parents; NBC News Coverage from March 1st reports that support for Bernie Sanders in South Carolina dramatically increased among younger voters, while Joe Biden, a more moderate candidate, took a majority of older votes across racial demographics. 

But this divide could be damaging to Democrats in the general election; while Sanders and Biden point out each other’s flaws each week (with jabbing interjections by Warren gradually fading into the distance), Donald Trump simply gets to sit back and enjoy the show. 

This is part of the reason why, in our nation’s history, only five incumbent presidents have lost an election. And while polls show both Sanders and Biden in close contention with Trump in a potential general election, we all know that polls, like expired milk and Italians, should never be trusted. Add into the mix the overall steady economy and Trump’s increasing approval rates, and it becomes clear that it really doesn’t matter who the Democratic front-runner is. 

Of course, I am in no way suggesting that optimism is futile and your vote doesn’t matter as much as it should in any election due to the out-dated electoral system that is unquestioningly protected by our institutions of government–your vote is important! I’m not sure how, but I need to believe that it is. 

So, fellow first-timers: if you’re a Republican, enjoy your nap on March 17th. If you’re a Democrat, just take a deep breath and breathe in the scent of civic duty. Even if your guy, or girl (I mean, she’s technically still in the race) doesn’t end up in the oval office, at least you won’t be the reason that someone you don’t support is. In other words, just vote anyways. Heck, write in Buttigeig if it makes you happy (and if you know how to spell it)! Because while liberal indecision and generational divide may not get Democrats to the White House this time around, nothing short of a miracle will. 

But hey, at least we can all agree not to vote for Mike Bloomberg.