*Correction: Your vote only doesn’t count if you don’t legally document it on a government issued piece of paper known as a ballot. So get out there and vote! Make your opinion count.
Oh, and just to help you out, here are the answers to 5 FAQs about Voting:
1. Why does it matter if I vote?
Your vote matters! In 2014, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that in Utah “only 28.8 percent of the voting-age population actually cast ballots.” In 2016, that number was significantly higher, (it jumped to 59.6%) but Utah is still one of only 11 states with a voter turnout rate below 60 percent. My theory is that many Utahns don’t vote because they don’t think it will make a difference. Yes, Utah is generally a republican state, but that could easily change. Imagine what would happen if all of the 41.4% of eligible voters that could vote, actually did vote and voted in favor of democratic candidates. Utah would quickly start bleeding blue. Things can always change, but only if each of us do our part.
2. How do I register to Vote? When is the deadline?
If you live in Utah, you can register to vote by visiting vote.utah.gov. You can also download and send in the voter registration form by mail (from the same website), but it has to be postmarked 30 days before the election date in order for your registration to be finalized on time. The online voter registration form only has to be completed 7 days before an upcoming election. Which means that if you haven’t registered to vote, you need to do it ASAP. The deadline for online registration is TOMORROW. Ahhhh! But don’t worry, if you happen to miss the deadline because you have an exam to study for, or because a cute boy asked you on a date and you find yourself unable to think about anything else for the next few days, you can register to vote at the polls on election day.*
3. How can I find out more information about each of the candidates?
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton aren’t the only two people up for election this year. Along with the presidential election, you’ll see a few other races on your ballot. You’ll be asked to vote for governor, state attorney general, county council, and a few other positions. It’s pretty easy to find out information on the big candidates like Donald and Hillary, but what about the lesser known, local candidates? Try visiting this website:
https://elections.utah.gov/Media/Default/2016 El...
Although it doesn’t have everything on it, it’s a pretty good place to start. I would also suggest googling candidates and checking out their websites. Research is key when it comes to picking state and national representatives that best represent your values.
4. Do I have to vote for everything on the ballot?
Nope! The votes that you do place will be counted, but you are under no obligation to fill out every portion of the ballot. In fact, it’s probably more responsible of you to skip a section if you don’t know anything about it than to randomly vote for a candidate just for the sake of voting.
5. How do I apply for an absentee ballot?
It’s different for every state, but if you’re requesting an absentee ballot for the state of Utah you can visit vote.utah.gov. But there are stipulations. You need to request an absentee ballot no later than the Thursday before the election you wish to participate in or you won’t be able to vote. So if you’re a Utahn by heart, but reside somewhere else, hurry and request an absentee ballot before it’s too late.
*Same day registration is only available in 8 Utah counties. Cache, Davis, Kane, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, and Weber.
