This Article was written by Charli and first published at Digital Marketing Magazine

With the 2016 US presidential election inching closer, candidates are ramping up their social media efforts. While 2012 was considered the first social media election, its 2016 successor will likely blow it out of the water in terms of engagement and overall impact. Below are 7 election hashtags to follow over the next few months.

1. #Election2016

If you’re following the race for the White House, #Election2016 is a hashtag you’re not going to want to miss. As the debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump rages on, this hashtag will provide you with a quick rundown of the latest dealings impacting the election.

2. #Trump

Hashtags related to Donald Trump are getting the most exposure per hour. It’s not difficult to see why. Trump is by far the most divisive presidential candidate in recent history. For his latest musings, look up #Trump.

3. #Hillary2016

Hashtags with the other major candidate are also trending this election season. On Twitter, you can’t go wrong with any of the major Hillary Clinton hashtags.

4. #HillaryEmails

During an election campaign, not all publicity is good publicity. Hillary Clinton has been scolded for her use of a private server to send out thousands of emails during her tenure as Secretary of State. Many of those emails would later be marked classified by the State Department, putting Hillary in a world of trouble. Deleted emails are only the tip of the iceberg regarding Hillary’s scandals. Benghazi, government donations and Wall Street connections are just sme of the items that could also be trending in the coming months.

5. #ClimateChange

Climate change is one of the leading issues of the 2016 elections, and many scientists believe the next president will be our last chance to curb environmental degradation associated with global warming. Amid severe droughts in California, the climate change debate is another divisive one that pits Democrats and Republicans on opposite ends of the spectrum.

6. #Syria

Trump has blamed the Obama administration for the rise of ISIS. He has also vehemently rejected accepting refugees from Syria and Iraq, two countries that have been decimated by foreign meddling, war and the rise of ISIS. Hashtags related to Syria or the refugee crisis will fuel a politically charged debate about America’s role in the Middle East.

7. #StudentLoanForgiveness

During the Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders made tackling student loan debt one of his chief concerns. Hillary Clinton has also criticized the GOP for failing to address the growing student loan bubble in America. This is a debate that hits close to home for many Millennials struggling with massive student loan debt and diminishing labour prospects. Expect Hillary to talk more about this subject as she campaigns for the White House.

The 2016 presidential election will take place on November 8, 2016. tweet me @Charli_Says to connect on Twitter

By Charli Day, writer and social media manager, Charli Says