Indiana is at the center of a heated national debate stemming from Gov. Mike Pence’s decision to sign into law last week the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The state law extends a 1993 federal law designed to protect the religious rights of individuals to corporations and companies, some of which have gone on to deny service to gay people. On Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned all non-essential publicly funded travel to Indiana, citing New York’s commitment to LGBTQ rights. The law has been widely criticized, but this is not the only time Indiana has allowed an older generation to dictate policy. Indiana’s recent legislative missteps illustrate how important it is for young people to vote, especially in local elections given community and state policy dictate many standards.

The RFRA unequivocally opens the door to discrimination. High-profile figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Hillary Clinton have condemned the law, and performers such as Wilco and Nick Offerman cancelled shows in the state. It is valid for supporters of LGBTQ rights to refuse to patronize antagonistic institutions and services, but they must also vote in the next elections in order to truly change policy.

The state is not just making headlines for the new law. There is currently an HIV outbreak in rural Scott County, largely due to high rates of intravenous drug use. Since December, 80 people have tested positive, making it the largest outbreak in the state’s history. Pence has agreed to implement a 30-day needle exchange program despite a moral and political stance against these programs, but a temporary measure will not prevent a repeat occurrence. Needle sharing programs are supported  by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — areas with high intravenous drug use should provide these services consistently, not temporarily. Indiana is irresponsibly allowing a medical crisis to occur because of politician’s conservative ideals.

These types of local policies are not always popular — students in Indiana have taken strong stances against the conservative RFRA. The Indiana Daily Student berated Mike Pence for starting what they deemed “an avalanche of intolerance.” This rhetoric is expected of students, but this passion does not translate to the voting booth — young people are less likely to vote than their parents and grandparents.

The ramifications of the RFRA shows just how important it is that young people vote for politicians who represent them. Moving to a new area makes registering to vote in local elections more difficult, but this must not stop students from exercising their political power.

Young voters are overwhelmingly liberal and tend to vote Democratic, especially when it comes to social issues. However, as Indiana demonstrates, unless young people take action and vote in local elections, their voices will be drowned out.

A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, April 2 print edition. Email the WSN Editorial Board at [email protected].