Though the turmoil of midterms is lurking on the horizon and the unpredictable Michigan weather is confusing just about everybody, students at Grand Valley State University and beyond should be gearing up to get engaged, stay informed and mobilize for their futures as the Republican presidential primaries make their way to the Mitten State on Feb. 28.

For a lot of students at GVSU, this is the first time to have a real say in what happens to the future of this country. You may not be Republican, and you may not even like any of the Republican candidates in the running, but that’s not an excuse to pretend like it’s not of any consequence to you.

The 2008 elections proved the power of the youth vote. College-aged students and the like were one of the cardinal forces behind putting the first African-American president into office, and regardless of whether you think now-President Barack Obama was the right choice or not, you can’t deny that kind of milestone.

Students turned out in record numbers to elect Obama, but many analysts are predicting that this November, college voters will return to their historically passive state and bypass the voting booth, especially for the upcoming primaries. However, regardless of your politics or your thoughts on the electoral college, every vote counts — including yours.

Recent events like the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations and the Internet protests of SOPA show that Americans are craving a say — we want a voice in our government, and we want that voice to be heard, but one of the loudest ways to project that voice is to go to the polls and vote, regardless of your party affiliation (or lack thereof). Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, a third-party supporter or want to write in “Sarah Palin” come November, get engaged. Know the candidates, form an educated opinion and make that opinion heard at the polls.