Before an upcoming election, the main topic of discussion among college students has been Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization initiative. But students should not forget there are other propositions on the ballot.

While it is possible that this election period will break records in terms of college student turnout (ahem, probably because of the weed, dude), The State Hornet would like to remind you that your voice is vital and needs to be heard on Election Day.

We are not living in a college bubble &- what is happening in the state of California in terms of politics affects us directly. We are the ones who will be graduating and getting on with our careers sooner or later. The propositions that are enacted or turned down now will surely have a huge impact on our future.

Do not let other members of the public, some of whom have already retired from their careers, make these decisions for you. Your vote matters just as much as theirs. But they might not be making the decisions about California’s laws that you would make.

Sure, politics might seem like corrupt games and you might not want anything to do with them. The fact of the matter is, we represent our generation through voting, and our voice needs to be heard regarding all of the propositions.

Take for example Prop 21, which would provide funding for state parks from an $18 annual vehicle license surcharge. In total, an estimated $500 million a year would be raised because of this fee, according to californiapropositions.org.

All the funding from this surcharge would go toward state park operations and would mean that anyone who paid the annual fee would be able to park for free at beaches and most state parks.

Prop 25 is another important initiative on the ballot. It seeks to try and put an end to the late budget periods that California has been through. State lawmakers would be forced to forfeit their pay until they pass a budget.

If state lawmakers were compelled to pass a budget quicker and more efficiently, the California State University would be making decisions on enrollment and admission with a concrete budget at hand.

Also on the ballot is Prop 22. If passed, it would help balance the state budget by preventing the state from taking funds typically used for transportation and local government projects and services.

Here is some more soup for the soul. If approved by voters, Prop 20 would transfer the power of redrawing Congressional districts from the state Legislature to a Citizens Redistricting Commission, composed of five Democrats, five Republicans and four nonpartisan voters.

And there are even more propositions.

Prop 26 would prevent voters from being hit with hidden taxes by requiring their approval. Prop 27 would eliminate the 14-member state commission on redistricting and voters would be able to vote on district boundary maps.

And let’s not stop there. Prop 24, if approved, would repeal certain corporate tax loopholes, like tax credit sharing and carrying back of losses. Prop 23 would suspend AB 32, the air pollution control laws that require major polluters to reduce carbon emissions.

Then there are the gubernatorial candidates. Besides the two popular party candidates, Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman, who have been actively campaigning, there are those who might not have been getting as much limelight.

Carlos Alvarez, for example, is representing the Peace and Freedom Party in the election. According to californiality.com, some of the important things he has proposed in his campaign are a $15 per hour minimum wage, free college education and voting rights at 16.

Then there are Chelen Nightingale with the Independent Party, Dale Ogden with the Libertarian Party and Laura Wells with the Green Party.

There are many choices in this election. Whether the propositions pass or fall through depends on you, the voters.

Change the status quo that exists about our generation &- that we do not usually come out and vote.

Get out there and vote; and if you already submitted your absentee ballot, more power to you.

The editorial staff can be reached at [email protected].