In the past, people have often said that political participation is pointless, and that my vote does not count.

Imagine you have a friend who holds that view.

How would you seek to persuade this friend to change his or her view?

First, draw from what you know about ideology when talking with your friend. Based on what you know about ideology and the current candidates for the presidency, which candidates do you see as a potential problem (and why) and which as offering possible solutions (and why)? Make your argument in terms of ideology, not personal feelings. How does ideologies revolve around views about the role of government, the proper pace for social change, and how and when government power should be used when it comes to personal choices.

(For example: Dear friend, your vote does count because we need a President of x ideology, for reasons a, b, c. Candidate A best matches this. Candidate B could actually make things worse, for reasons e, f, g. So your vote matters!)

Second, assuming your friend still needs some persuading, get technical. Explain to them how the Electoral College process works, and highlight the role that the popular vote plays. In terms of the Electoral College, what importance do our individual votes have?

Finally, if all else fails, what would you do to attempt to persuade your friend that their vote does indeed count, and their participation is important and worthwhile?

The Topic Is about: A ideological* argument in favor or Hillary Clinton (not that she deserves it or what we think is in her heart) — how do her ideas reflect a view about the role of government, and how is that a view you share, and if your friend Jessica shares it too then a vote for Hillary makes sense. It is not the usual way people talk about politics with each other.
Discuss the electoral college process at all — why are our individual votes important in terms of how the electoral college works?
How many people think the electoral college means their vote doesn’t count. How does it count, very much? There is a specific answer to this — the connection between the popular vote and the electoral vote.