Being 18 has many implications and one of them is to do your civic duty and go out and vote. How to vote isn't taught in school, so this article will help you vote for the first time!

Special situations

If you're unable to vote on November 6, you can vote earlier depending on what state you're in. Use this resource to figure out when and how you can vote early. Some states don't allow early voting, so you have to check the rules of your state. For those of you who are out of state, you can apply for an absentee ballot. There really is no excuse to not vote!

For the day of the election

Since it is your first time voting, you must bring a photo ID to verify who you are. You should also look up where your voting location is since that is the only place where you're allowed to vote. You should have received a letter stating where you need to vote. If you are unsure, there are many online resources that will tell you where to go. Get to the Polls and USA.gov are some of them. You should look up what other items you must bring to vote, since it depends on what state you're in.

Voting itself

Before you even get to the polls, you should know who you're voting for. Don't come to the polls without doing your research. An uneducated vote is a vote wasted. Base your decision on what you think and not what others think. Look at all the candidates carefully and their opinions on the issues that matter to you most. Voting is a serious matter because it affects how your country will be run. Demographically, younger people are seen at the polls less than other age groups. It's worth sacrificing a few minutes for a decision that will affect the country for the next few years