• As an American, voting is considered a civic duty. 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, remember 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.VoteSmart.org: American Government, Elections, Candidates and Voting

• Before you get into the rest of the voting process, keep in mind that you must meet certain qualifications in order to be eligible to cast your vote. The general requirements are that:

1. You must be a United States citizen.Rock the Vote: Do I need to be a U.S. citizen in order to register to vote?
2. You must be a legal resident of the state in which you are registered to vote.Declare Yourself: Voting FAQ - Am I eligible to vote?
3. You must be at least 18 years old on election day.Rock the Vote: Do I need to be 18 in order to register to vote?

• If in the past you have been convicted of a crime but are otherwise eligible to vote, your right to vote may be subject to certain preconditions, or in some cases permanently revoked. The Brennan Center for Justice provides a graphical guide that summarizes each state's policies for convicted felons who wish to vote:
  • Brennan Center for Justice: Criminal Disenfranchisement Laws Across the United States
• If you have a criminal record, remember to verify your eligibility to vote with the local and state government.

• In step 3 you will be thoroughly researching the candidates. But first, you need to determine which political party to register under.

• If you're unsure of where you sit on the political spectrum, you can get a general idea of where you stand by taking a brief online test.The Political Compass Official Site Again, the results of the test will only be a general assessment of which party seems to fit your beliefs, but it's a helpful place to start.

• The Republican and Democratic parties are the two most popular, but there are many alternative parties that you can affiliate yourself with if you feel compelled to branch out.ApatheticVoter.com: Alternative Political Parties in the U.S.

• Some of the most popular political parties in America include:Politics1: Guide to American Political Parties
  • Democratic Party
  • Republican Party
  • Libertarian Party
  • Green Party
  • Constitution Party

• 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).
  • - Refer to Mahalo's guide on How to Choose a Political Party if you're still unsure how, or even if, you want to align yourself with a specific party.

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.

• Before you can officially cast your ballot, you have to get register to vote with your state government.

1. Voter eligibility
   • - The general requirements are that you must be 18 years old before the election takes place, and that you are a legal citizen of the United States.Rock the Vote: Frequently Asked Questions
   • - Your particular state may have additional terms or requirements before you register. Declare Yourself provides a list of the requirements for all 50 states.Declare Yourself: Voting FAQ - State by State Info
2. Choose a party
   • - Some, but not all states require you to declare a political party when you register to vote.Youth Vote Overseas: Do I need to identify my party affiliation to vote in the Primaries?
   • - Depending on the kind of election held in your state, your choice or party may limit who you can vote for.Youth Vote Overseas: How do Primary Elections work?
3. Registration deadlines
   • - As with eligibility requirements, many states have different deadlines on when you must have your registration information processed in order to vote.
   • - Rock the Vote provides a list of these dates for every state in the U.S.Rock the Vote: Voter Registration Deadlines

• Once you've checked to make sure that you're legally able to get registered to vote, it's time to get signed up.

• Registering Online
• The easiest way to get registered is to obtain your registration materials online. Many organizations post these forms online:
  1. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission provides the proper registration paperwork on its site.U.S. Election Assistance Commission: Register to Vote -- The National Voter Registration Act
  2. Rock the Vote provides an automated form on the webpage that will complete the registration form and send a copy to your email address.Rock the Vote: Register to Vote (Registration Form)
  3. JustVote.org also provides a web service that will produce an electronic copy of your personal registration form.

• NOTE: None of these organizations will allow you to register online. They will all require you to print out forms and physically mail them into your official state elections office.Overseas Vote Foundation: Election Official Directory

• Registering In Person
  1. You can always visit your local municipal building (such as City Hall) to find out all the information you need.
  2. Many non-partisan volunteer groups will set up stations in public places to get people registered to vote, right on the spot.Wellstone Action!: Voter Registration - Neighborhood Voter Contact Program Action Steps
  3. 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.DMV.org: Register to Vote
  4. Some states even allow you to register at the polling place right before you cast your ballot!Rock the Vote: Voter Registration Deadlines

• • - Refer to Mahalo's full guide on How to Register to Vote if you're still unsure about the process of getting registered for an upcoming election.

• 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 to make your vote count even if you're away from home.Declare Yourself: Voting FAQ - What is absentee voting and how do you do it?

• The general process for absentee voting is relatively simple:

1. Register to vote like you normally would.
2. Request an absentee ballot.
3. Mail the ballot into your official election office before the official election date.
   • - Specific processes and deadlines may vary from state to state, so consult Vote411.org for absentee information specific to your state.Vote411.org: Search by Topic (Absentee Voting)

• If you are voting from an extended stay outside of the United States, you can still participate in an election with a special ballot called a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).Youth Vote Overseas: What is the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)? You must meet the following criteria to qualify for voting with a FWAB:Overseas Vote Foundation: Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

1. You must be a qualified voter and/or a direct family member of a uniformed voter currently living overseas.
2. You must have registered to vote by the proper deadline for the state in which you claim residence.
3. Your officially requested absentee ballot must not yet have arrived in the mail.Overseas Vote Foundation: Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

• The Overseas Vote Foundation and its subsidiary, Youth Vote Overseas provide all the information you'll need to vote if you're an American citizen currently living abroad.Overseas Vote Foundation: Homepage Youth Vote Overseas: Homepage

• 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.

• 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. Take an online quiz.
   • Although sometimes these fall more on the fun side of things, rather than the serious and political, many websites offer brief quizzes that will show you which candidates best match your personal beliefs. A few examples include:
     1. Glassbooth.org: Choose the Best 2008 Presidential Candidate
     2. VoteHelp.org: Obama vs. McCain Candidate Calculator Quiz
     3. SelectSmart.com: 2008 Presidential Candidate Selector
     4. ABC News: Match-o-Matic 2
5. 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.
6. 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. The best way to sift through the bias is to consult websites dedicated to verify the authenticity of facts thrown around during campaigns:
     1. FactCheck.org: Annenberg Political Fact Check
     2. PolitiFact: A service of the St. Petersburg Times and CQ
     3. WashingtonPost.com: The Fact Checker by Michael Dobbs
     4. OpenSecrets.org: Money in Politics -- See Who's Giving and Who's Getting
7. 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.

• You'll be voting for more than just candidates on election day. Many ballots will include ballot measures, propositions or voter initiatives, which cover a wide range of issues (everything from education to alternative energy).Declare Yourself: Voting FAQ - In a federal election, what will I be voting on? You will be able to vote "yes" or "no" on specific policies for these issues.

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.

• 
• 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!