How to Vote

Guide Note: Every so often, the opportunity arises to voice your opinion on how your country is run. You have the ability to vote for representatives who will make vital decisions for you over the next few years, so why pass it up? This page will give you the info you need, before and on election day, so you'll know How to Vote. Let your voice be heard!

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • Anyone will tell you that, as an American, it's your civil duty to vote. But beyond making you feel patriotic, voting also allows you to voice your opinions on political candidates and the issues that affect you and your family. So instead of complaining that your single vote couldn't possibly make a difference, realize that the only true way to make sure your opinion doesn't matter is to not vote at all.
  • So now that we've established that you have nothing to lose (and there's no use complaining about a system you didn't participate in), how do you go about assuring your voice will be heard? Luckily, the voting process is not complicated; read through this page and you'll be feel confident heading off to the polls!

NOTE: Because the voting process can vary from state to state, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the specifics of your local municipality.

Step 1: First Things First

It's time to get into the voting spirit! (Creative Commons photo by Dan Lurie)
It's time to get into the voting spirit! (Creative Commons photo by Dan Lurie)

Are You Eligible to Vote?

  • Before you read any further, keep in mind that you must have the following qualifications in order to be eligible to cast your vote:
  1. You must be a United States citizen.
  2. You must be at least 18 years old on election day.
  3. Each state has laws on convicted felons' eligibility requirements.

It's Party Time

  • In step 3 you will be thoroughly researching the candidates, but you will be asked to choose a political party when you first register to vote.
  • If you're unsure of where you sit on the political spectrum, try taking this test to help clear things up a bit.
  • If you don't feel as though you quite fit in anywhere, you may consider registering as an independent (or not affiliating yourself with any party at all).

NOTE: Most states require you to choose a party in order to vote in their primary elections. In some states, registered independents can choose which party's primary they would like to vote on.

Step 2: Register

  • After you've established your party affiliation and that you can, in fact, vote, the next step in the process is registration. Registering is important because
  1. Your polling place will have a record of who you are when you go to vote, and
  2. You will be mailed (or be able to find online) all of the pertinent details and information regarding any upcoming elections.
  • After you register to vote in your state, you will be kept up to date any time an election is approaching with the following information:
  1. The date and time of the election.
  2. The address of the voting location nearest to you.
  3. The candidates' names, parties, and, in some cases, general stances on certain issues.
  4. A description of any voter initiatives.
  5. A sample ballot, complete with instructions on how the voting process will work.
    • You can use the sample ballot to practice casting your vote so that you know exactly what to expect come election day.
    • In some cases, the sample ballot can be brought into the voting booth to save time.

How to Register

  1. By far the easiest way to register is to do it online. Just go to Rock the Vote to do so. (You will have to print and mail a form.)
  2. JustVote.org allows you to download a PDF file of the voter registration paperwork for free. Simply click on your state, print the document, fill it out, and mail it in.
  3. Vote411.org is an excellent resource for finding voting information for your state, including how to register.
  4. If you move to a new state and apply for a new driver's license, you can usually register to vote right in the DMV during the application process, killing two birds with one stone.
  5. You can always visit your local municipal building (such as City Hall) to find out all the information you need, but this seems like the less desirable option when technology allows you to do it all from home.
  6. If you will be away from home on election day, you can register for an absentee ballot. Read on to the next section for more details.

Absentee Voting

  • If you are unable to physically be at your polling place on election day (if you are in the military or are a U.S. citizen living overseas, for example), you may be able to fill out an absentee ballot.
  1. Absentee ballots, like the rest of the voting process, have different procedures for each state.
  2. Most absentee ballots must be received before election day (usually at least one week prior). If you think you will need one, plan ahead!

NOTE: If you move to a new state, you must register to vote in your new location, regardless of whether or not you've already registered in another state.

Step 3: Educate Yourself

Know what you're voting for when you enter the booth. (Creative Commons photo by Sam Felder)
Know what you're voting for when you enter the booth. (Creative Commons photo by Sam Felder)
  • The act of voting itself isn't much harder than pumping gas. What's a little more complex is the task of choosing your favorite candidates and deciding where you stand on the issues. Now that you've registered, you should spend some time before election day comes researching and familiarizing yourself with who/what is on the ballot until you feel comfortable and confident in your choices.

Choosing a Candidate

  • It is important to support a candidate you feel you can trust to make decisions you would agree with. Once you find out who is running for office, gather as much information as you can on each candidate, until you have a good idea of who they are and what they represent.
  1. Visit their official website.
    • This is always a good place to start, because you can get a good outline of the issues that are important to each candidate.
    • Since you will be provided with generally one-sided information, don't base your entire opinion on their website.
  2. Read interviews and articles on the candidate.
    • Interviews can help you get an idea of how they think and how they answer the hard-hitting questions.
    • Articles and opinion pieces may open your eyes to possible controversies or criticisms.
    • Read newspaper editorials from sources and authors you trust and generally agree with.
    • Online political blogs can be informative, but check up on the writers' credentials to see if they're legitimate.
  3. Watch the debates.
    • There are always multiple debates in which the candidates take part. This can be a great way to size them up against each other.
  4. Look candidates up on non-partisan websites.
    • You can find unbiased information on each candidate from organizations such as Vote411.org.
    • Project Vote Smart provides voting records and backgrounds for each candidate.
  5. Take an online quiz.
    • Some websites such as Glassbooth offer brief online quizzes that can help show you which candidates you share the most common ground with.
  6. Attend a political rally in your area.
    • Candidates travel and campaign around the country. If you get the opportunity, go out and hear what they have to say.
    • Some events will allow you the chance to ask them a question directly.
  7. Take smear campaigns with a grain of salt.
    • As election day approaches, you will see more and more negative advertising in which candidates attack their opponents.
    • While some criticisms can't be written off entirely, keep in mind these ads are not unbiased.
  8. Check out every candidate.
    • Even though the primaries have you vote within a single party, just because you registered as a Democrat doesn't mean you have to vote for the Democratic nominee on election day.
    • Research all of the candidates; you may find common ground in unexpected places.

Siding on Issues

  • You'll be voting for more than just candidates on election day. Many ballots will include voter initiatives, which cover a wide range of issues (everything from education to alternative energy). You will be able to vote "yes" or "no" on these propositions.
  1. Just like when choosing a candidate, read editorials, articles, and news about each initiative to get a good idea of its upsides and downsides.
  2. If you feel overwhelmed or in over your head, focus on the issues that mean the most to you. If you have children, education is probably important to you. If you are paying off loans, new local taxes might be a concern.

Step 4: Vote!

(Creative Commons photo by Dawn Endico)
(Creative Commons photo by Dawn Endico)
  • Election day has finally arrived... You're registered, you know what you're voting for, and now there is only one final step: casting your ballot! (If you're going to be casting an absentee ballot, don't forget that you are required to send it before election day comes!)
  • By now you should have information on where your local polling place is, so head on down there and get in line. Be sure you bring everything you need (you'll probably need a photo ID); check out Vote411.org for your local information. They may even give you a cool sticker when you're done... And you'll certainly feel a little patriotic pride!

Resources for How to Vote

Related Searches

Election 2008 | 2008 Primary Calendar | How to Choose a Candidate | How to Choose a Political Party | 2008 Presidential Candidates | Election Day | Democratic Party | Republican Party | Libertarian Party | United States | Voting Machine Controversy | Washington, DC Voting Rights



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