Michelle Obama is just as tired of politics as you are

Still, she wants you to vote this November.
 By 
Marcus Gilmer
 on 
Michelle Obama is just as tired of politics as you are
Former first lady Michelle Obama fires up a Nevada crowd to vote in the upcoming midterms. Credit: Getty Images

If there's anyone feels as exhausted as we do about the current "nastiness" of the political cycle, it's former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Ahead of her upcoming book tour, Obama spoke at a When We All Vote voter registration rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, where she expressed her own frustration over "the chaos" in politics and encouraged voters to turn out for the upcoming midterm elections.

"Trust me, I get it. I get being busy and I definitely get feeling frustrated because, believe me, I am frustrated, too," Obama said. "I am sick of all the chaos and the nastiness of our politics. It's exhausting and, frankly, it's depressing. So I understand wanting to shut it all out and... just try to live your life."

Still, she explained, that's no excuse not to show up at the polls.

"But here's the problem. While some folks are frustrated and tuned out and staying home on Election Day, trust me, other people are showing up. Democracy continues with or without you."

She stressed the importance of voting by highlighting the impact of local races all the way up to congress and the importance of ballot initiatives, and brought the message home for a young audience, joking, "Not voting is like letting your grandma pick your clothes out."

Sunday's rally was part of When We All Vote's "Week of Action," which includes another rally featuring Obama on Friday in Miami.

The midterm elections are coming up fast on Tuesday, November 6. You can read more about Obama's role in When We All Vote right here.

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Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

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