Voter’s Guide, Part 2: How to Vote (and more)
Voting is one of the most important things you can do to exercise your rights as a citizen. It’s the simplest way to express your opinion and help push the country in the direction you think is best for its future. And while you have just one vote, you are still adding your voice to the chorus of opinions and contributing to the political system through your participation. You also never know when an election (whether local, state, or national) may come down to just a handful of votes, in which yours may prove decisive. In the most recent presidential election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the results would have been flipped if just several thousand people across several decisive states had voted differently. In the 2000 Presidential Election, George W. Bush beat Al Gore by a mere 537 votes in Florida, the tipping point state which won him the election. In many local elections all across the country, political contests are frequently decided by even fewer votes. So never think that your vote doesn’t matter!
Unfortunately, voting in America is not the easiest thing to do - in most states, you need to register before a deadline and provide certain information just to be eligible. For this reason, I’ll cover the general steps necessary in order to vote, as well as provide a number of links helping you figure out the laws in your state/locality. I’ll also discuss other ways you can get involved in the voting process, such as volunteering at polling places or being politically active.
Registering to vote:
The process for becoming eligible to vote depends entirely on your state of residence. To learn what needs to be done in your state, check out vote.gov. Inputting your state will provide you the links to register (which is typically done on your state government’s website), as well as provide the deadlines for when registration must be done by. Note that the deadline to register can be as early as a month before election day, so make sure to get this done early! As an example, I’ve placed the 2020 Presidential Election map below, with each states’ deadline. Deadlines can change from one election to the next however, so don’t use this as evidence for future elections. There are also state and local elections, which we will get into soon, which can occur in years that don’t have presidential elections, and don’t always occur in November.
image by ABC News
In most states - but not all - you can register to vote online. Typically you will need a residential address and ID number in order to register. In many states, you can also register to vote by mail, rather than voting in person on election day. You’ll receive your voting ballot by mail up to several weeks before the election and be able to fill it out on your own time and from the comfort of your home. Again, however, this is not offered in all states and there are also often requirements for having your vote count when voting by mail (proper signature, placing voting ballot in a sealed envelope, etc.). Shown below is the map for which states allowed vote by mail in 2020, though this will likely change for future elections. As will be said many times, check your state’s rules. One important thing to note is you do not need to be 18 in order to register - as long as you will be 18 before the date of the election, you can complete your registration earlier! If you are even younger, you can also sign-up to be notified on your birthday to register. The good news is once you are registered to vote, you do not need to register again unless you move residencies (or if voting laws change in the future, nationally or in your state).
Know your voting rights and be prepared:
Since every state has its own set of voting laws, it can be confusing to know which laws apply to you. To defend against misinformation, it’s important to check with official sources - such as government websites which end in .gov. You can be directed to your state government’s website through usa.gov, the federal government’s website. The ACLU has a great wiki on potential issues you may encounter - such as if you are a voter with disabilities or English-as-a-second-language - as well as what to do in situations where someone is infringing on your right to vote. Being aware ahead of time of your voting rights will help smooth the voting process and prevent your rights from being infringed.
Similarly, it’s good to prepare for voting by creating a plan for election day. Know where your nearest polling location is (if you aren’t voting by mail) and what it’s hours are. Plan ahead what time you will cast your vote, and figure out how you will get to and from the polling place. Unexpected things can always pop up, and you don’t want to delay voting on election day just to realize the polling places have all closed or you don’t have a ride. Also, make sure to bring your ID if you live in a state that requires one to vote.
image by Business Insider
Participate in local elections:
While the presidential elections every 4 years are important, so are the much-less-discussed local elections that happen wherever you live. Since there are way less voters in state and local elections compared to the national presidential election, your vote counts even more here. Often you may be asked to vote not just for political candidates, but for ballot measures as well. This can cover issues such as how your local government should spend its money, if taxes should be raised or lowered, LGBTQ or minority rights, and much, much, much more.
So it’s probably a good idea to read ahead of time about what is going to be on your ballot and think about what a yes/no vote will mean. It’s often the case that you are provided only limited information, if any, on the ballot itself. For political candidates, you’re usually only given their name and political party affiliation. And you may have many, many candidates to vote on in any given election - from senators to state representatives to judges and county sheriffs and school board members. While it is not required of you to vote for every race and measure on the ballot, local elections are the ones most relevant to you! Since local issues aren’t often covered in the news, you’ll need to take the initiative to research what’s on the ballot ahead of time or read local news.
image by Getty Images/Stockphoto
Get involved in other ways:
Besides voting itself, there are other ways you can support democracy in America. One easy way is to volunteer at one of your local polling places. Some states have certain age requirements or other rules, so once again - check your state’s laws to see if you’re eligible. You can also volunteer for any number of organizations that support causes you believe in. Helping raise awareness about important issues, informing other voters about election information, or working on a candidate’s campaign are all great ways to get involved. There are dozens of ways to be politically active and support causes, and it’s simply a matter of picking what you want to devote your time and energy to. Many of these options involve activities separate from election days, so that you can take them up any time of year and stay involved even after elections occur. Many of these are also open to those under 18, who want to be a part of the democratic process but aren’t yet eligible to vote. From engaged activism to protests to community outreach, find subjects you care about and make your voice heard!