Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people aged 10 to 18 from across the country.

This week implores people to use their right to vote.

As the media firestorm around the US primaries begins to die down, I look across the Atlantic with a raised eyebrow and plenty of cynicism.

I am certainly not the only one disillusioned to the ridiculousness of American politics, but some of my ‘woke’ American accomplices have taken to a bizarre form of protest - resisting the powers that be by not voting.

Or in other words, holding those in power to account by doing absolutely nothing to change the system.

The usual lame excuses boiled down to ‘I would vote for X party, but my vote wouldn’t do anything, so why bother?’ or ‘The party I support is too small to make a difference.’

Were this one or two people, I would be less concerned, however, the sheer volume of people saying this left me aghast – those in the land of the free sure seem to enjoy being walked over.

We have spent centuries refining democracy to make it not only meaningful, but accessible to all. In a time where the freedoms we enjoy are waning there is no better time to engage in politics.

It’s not a protest, it’s slacktivism.

Protest is supporting a small party that challenges the status quo – protest is rallying others around you to fight for what you believe in and at least trying to make a difference.

It sure is anarchic doing absolutely nothing other than sitting and complaining because somebody you didn’t like get voted in.

This isn’t unique to American politics either...Remainers I am looking at you.

You have a vote, use it.

By Oliver Streather-Paul