Politics can feel disingenuous. With all the political ads on TV, print and radio, as well as its frequent infiltration in the news cycle, citizens can feel distant — or even unwanted or undervalued — by their local, state and federal governments.

Nearly 40 percent of American voters believe elections are unfair, according to a September 2018 report conducted by NPR/Marist Poll.

Despite this, trust in politicians has reached a 10-year high with 55 percent of Americans saying in early September that they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in politicians, according to a recent Gallup poll.

However, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or independent, today is the day to make your voice heard and vote.

If you are reading this within the area of Iowa State, there are lots of important races on the ballot this Midterm election including the race for governor, lieutenant governor, the U.S. House of Representatives, Iowa secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, auditor, secretary of agriculture, Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, and court judges.

This year especially, it is critically important to go beyond the protests, counter protests, marches and political outreach. In a lot of ways, it comes down to the polls — and many will come down to the wire.

Democratic candidate for governor, Fred Hubbell, has just a .7 point lead over Republican candidate and incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds, according to RealClearPolitics.

According to a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll released Saturday, Hubbell has a 2-point lead over Reynolds. These are very thin margins, meaning every vote counts for Iowa’s next governor.

Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives J.D. Scholten is hoping to pull an upset and unseat Republican incumbent Steve King, who is vying for his ninth two-year term.

However, despite recent criticism against the controversial congressman, who just recently endorsed a white nationalist who ran for mayor in Toronto, he still leads by a 5 percentage point lead, according to the New York Times.

No matter the results of Tuesday’s election, it is important that you participate in the electoral process and ensure that you are advocating for your rights as a United States citizen.

Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you have not voted already, go vote. Not sure how to vote? Visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s office for your polling location.

Not sure where you stand on the candidates? The Iowa State Daily has everything you need to know about the candidates you may find on your ballot, ranging from Iowa’s 45th House District to a tight gubernatorial race between incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democrat Fred Hubbell.

It is easy to feel disenfranchised by the political system, but it does not mean that it is completely broken. Yet it is crucial for you to exercise your right to vote as a woman, as a person of color, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, as a United States citizen and vote into office the candidate you feel will best respect and fight for your identity.

So if you haven’t yet, show up to the polls Tuesday and tell your local, state and federal government that you deserve to be heard.