Within the Fresno State community lies an undeniably contagious spirit.

Many of us relish the controversy of sharing opposing ideas and beliefs, and some of us will make a living this way. We find comfort in like-mindedness and a thrill in debate.

This is the 21st century, and we take full advantage of our freedom of thought and voice ”” or at least we should.

As students are susceptible to the successes and consequences of our leaders, it is imperative that our voices are heard ”” all 20,000 of them.

Over 70 percent of attending students are 18 to 24 years old, according to the university’s demographics webpage. This means well over half of the entire campus is able to legally vote.

Nationwide, “approximately 46 million 18 to 29-year-olds are eligible to vote in 2012,” according the Young Democrats of America.

Over the next three years, that generation will account for one-third of the electorate ”” a long jump from 24 percent in 2011. The children really are the future.

The presidential election of 2008 set the bar for future voting trends because of its historical significance ”” the election of President Barak Obama.

Generally speaking, the turnout of youth voters was only 2 percent higher than in 2004 ”” not impressive.

The groundbreaking statistic from 2008 is the 58 percent of African-American youth who cast their votes, resulting in the “highest turnout rate of any youth racial group since 1972,” according to the Fair Elections Legal Network and its Campus Vote Project.

Statistics show that young adults with college experience have higher voter turnouts ”” 30 percent higher than those without a college education. They are referring to us, fellow students.

As students, we understand the importance of maintaining good habits (not to say we always practice them), and voting is habit-forming.

Just as our study habits improve over time, voter turnout can flourish for the first time in 30 years if we made it routine ”” starting this year.

For students who have participated in elections since age 18, here are some ways we can encourage young people to vote, according to The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement:

Simply registering can have an effect on our attitude toward voting. Registered voters receive sample ballots and proposition books, and can learn everything they need while comfortable at home.

Registration is now offered online ”” we are running out of excuses to not vote.

Personalizing the voting process for someone is less intimidating. Instead of discussing partisan and nonpartisan or pros and cons, ask others what they are searching for in a representative.

What are their core values? Who are they looking to benefit with their vote? Sometimes, we need a fresh outlook instead of what we are exposed to in spiteful political ads and campaign tours.

In compliance with student voting laws, “college students are entitled to register and vote in the community that they regard as their principal residence,” according to the New York University School of Law.

This means that our voting residence is determined by the place in which we eat, sleep and reside. College students temporarily living in Fresno for the sake of school can vote as a Fresno citizen.

With the invention of unconventional means, we are able to educate ourselves, register to vote on the Web and pass along this vital message:

Voting can and will affect the lives of students on a local and national level.

In the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”