I’ve always had this distaste for the US government. I used to see it as one of the most ineffective waste of resources run by people that seek pleasure in seeing their citizens struggle. To this day, I still think that parts of the government are like this but after watching the DNC last week, I feel this sense of hope bubbling inside me. I feel hopeful that the US government could work with its people instead of working against them. This realization has made me so excited to vote in this year’s presidential election.
In a little over 2 months, election day arrives, and I want you all to be ready for it. For this week’s post, I am giving you all an in depth guide on how to vote this year.
Election day is a day when any US citizen over the age of 18 is given the privilege to vote for the presidential candidate they believe will best address the issues of this nation. There are so many elections and primaries throughout the year but the presidential election is one we can’t miss. Though there are millions of people in this country, every single vote counts. We all say we’re going to vote, but circumstances can make that difficult so I wanted to simplify that for you all.
1. Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote
Some states offer online registration, but states like Texas sadly do not. If your state does offer online registration, I go online and register immediately. If your state doesn’t offer online registration, print out a voter registration form, fill it out, and mail it now.
For those with disabilities that make it difficult for them to register in person, I recommend registering online if your state allows. If they don’t, fill out the paper form, and have a trusted family member, friend, or caregiver drop it off for you at the post office.
Not every state accepts the National Mail Voter Registration form, and this includes North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Wyoming. In North Dakota, they don’t have voter registration, so just bring a valid ID on election day. In New Hampshire, you can register in person on election day or earlier at a town hall. Wyoming has their own voter registration form that they also require to be notarized. This means if you are a resident of Wyoming, get that form filled out and notarized at the earliest.
Besides online registration, you can also register through the mail, and if all else fails in person. All in all, register, register, register before the deadline. Don’t put it off. Do it now.
2. Who do you want to vote for?
This election is between two people. One person who wants to build this nation up. The other wants to destroy it all and tear everything we’ve built down. In my opinion, it’s an extremely easy choice.
If it’s not that simple for you, I recommend watching videos of these candidates and determining what values and principles they uphold. Which candidate do you believe will serve the entire nation best? Think of the larger picture and not just you.
Along with videos, also use news articles that analyze the candidates recent campaign speeches and declarations. When doing this though, rely on multiple news outlets to get every perspective. Don’t let a news source’s bias control your perspective of a candidate.
3. Now We Vote
This is where it gets a little confusing. To break it down, there are three types of voting: early voting, absentee voting, and election day voting.
Early Voting
- It begins 17 days before the election unless that day falls on a weekend then it begins on that Monday and ends four days before the election day.
- There are 3 states where early voting in person is not available: Mississippi, Alabama, and New Hampshire. These states do offer absentee voting, but voting in person earlier than the election day is unavailable.
- Early voting is typically offered at sites where election day voting will take place as well.
- It’s perfect for those who won’t be in town on election day or want the convenience of voting early.
Absentee Voting
- It’s typically completed by college students out of state, people who will be out of town on election day, and those who have a disability preventing them from voting in person.
- Every state has different rules for absentee ballots. Some states require an excuse while others don’t.
- Click this link to determine the rules in your state and here for deadlines.
Election Day Voting
- On election day, if you haven’t completed an absentee ballot or did not vote early, you must vote in person.
- There are 29 states that require your employer to provide time off to vote, and 22 of those states provide paid time off.
- 21 states don’t provide time off including Florida, South Carolina, and New Jersey.
- Here is a complete list of the rules for time off in each state.
- If you can’t afford to take time off of work, which is understandable, try to vote early on a weekend, or send in an absentee ballot.
- You can also try to vote at lunch time, before work or after work.
- The polls are typically open from 7 am to 7 pm, and for many sites if you’re in line by 7 pm, you’re still allowed to vote even after 7.
I tried to make this as comprehensive as possible, but I probably missed some things to tell the truth. If you have any extra pieces of advice, write them in the comments below.
That’s finally it for this week’s article. I know you all are probably tired after reading all of this, but I hope it helped. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp and VOTE 😉