On Tuesday, November 8, less than a year from now, America will elect its 45th president. While in the past, Election Day might not have seemed like a major deal to us, this time around we’re finally legal to vote. Whomever is elected will affect our futures for many years to come. This year it’s our chance to make a difference. Not sure what’s going on? Don’t know how to get involved? It’s simple:
1. Register to vote
Registering to vote sounds like a scary and complicated process but it’s surprisingly easy. All you have to do is go onto https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote, click on your state, and answer some simple background questions. It shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes and you're not obligated to make any important decisions at the time. Registering is the first and most important step in getting involved this election season, without doing so you cannot vote in any election.
2. Request an absentee ballot
After registering you’re now eligible to vote. If you don’t go to college in state or aren’t close to your registered voting facility it’s perfectly fine. By requesting an absentee ballot you can vote by mail and still have your voice heard without having to go home to vote. If you requested a ballot and you end up wanting to vote in you’re polling location all you have to do is bring it with you and return it, no questions asked.
3. Get informed
This is a big one. Since you’re now ready to vote, it’s time to learn the facts. There are many ways to become informed about what’s going on this election season. Read the candidate's platform to find out what their positions are in regards to social, economic, and international issues. Watch the debates to see how the candidates fare against each other. You can even just watch clips from candidate’s rallies on YouTube. Getting informed is as simple as typing a name into Google.
4. Stay informed
Now that you’re informed it’s important that you stay informed. It seems like almost every day a candidate is saying something crucial in the news, a new primary is occurring, or a domestic/international issue calls for a response. It’s not hard to stay up-to-date with what’s happening and here are a lot of quick and easy ways to do so. Sign up for notifications with the Associated Press. AP sends out current notifications of all major events, primary winners, and important updates regarding the candidates in a quick and efficient manner. Get daily newsletters such as New York Times or Washington Post sent to your email. The Skimm is a lighthearted daily newsletter that summarizes current events, including election guides, in an amusing and simple way for those who aren’t really sure what’s going on this election season. Finally, the most obvious way you can stay informed is Google. We use Google daily and all you have to do is type in a candidate's name, a primary, or any question you may have this election season and you’re more than likely to get an answer.
5. Most important…VOTE!!!
Now that you’re ready to vote it’s important that you actually do it. Whomever is elected will have the ability to change our futures for the next 4-8 years and it’s our constitutional right to have a say in who that man or woman will be. For many of us this is the first time we’re legal to vote and put our voices out there and it’s crucial that we do so. Most importantly, if you don’t vote in this election you can’t complain. Be part of the solution.
