Nov 7, 2006
ROCK THE VOTE!
Today is the Day
VOTING IS EASY,
JUST DO IT!
Everything you need to know to piss off a politician by voting
1. FIRST, REGISTER TO VOTE
Do it online at http://www.rockthevote.com/. It’ll only take a few minutes---all you have to do is print it, sign it, lick it and mail it. The deadline to mail in your form is usually 15-30 days before the day of the election. Check your state’s info below to find out. If you think you are already registered at an old address, go ahead and re-register at your new address.
Some states allow you to register at the polling place on Election Day. Those states are Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Wyoming, and Idaho. If you live in one of those states and neglect to register before the election, you may show up on Election Day with ID and proof of residency and you can vote. Contact your state for more info. However, we encourage you to register to vote now so that we can follow up with you; you should use Election Day registration as a back up.
2. IF YOU ARE A STUDENT, YOU CAN VOTE FROM SCHOOL
College students can register to vote wherever they consider “home”, including their school address. Unfortunately, some state election officials don’t seem to understand this reality and they attempt to prevent students from registering and voting, claiming they are not “permanent” residents. This is wrong – don’t let it happen to you! See our website for more information that you can use to fight back. We encourage students to vote from school. If you believe, however, that your vote would make a bigger impact at your parents’ address, and you can’t get back there for Election Day, you may be able to get an absentee ballot and vote by mail. See below.
3. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO VOTE FROM HOME
If you are pretty sure you won’t be in town or able to vote in person on Election Day, you may be able to get an absentee ballot and vote by mail. (However, you must already be registered to vote, so if you haven’t registered before, never mind.) If you are eligible, you should request a vote by mail ballot from your state.
Deadlines vary from state to state so contact your elections division early—like now. Your state will send you the ballot; you just fill it out and mail it back. Usually the deadline for the state to receive the form is by close of the polls on Election Day or in some cases a few days before the election. Contact your elections division for the exact deadlines (see below). However, for residents of Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana, Nevada, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia: you can’t vote by mail if this is your first time voting, you have to vote in the flesh the first time.
4. USE THE WEB TO FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE
Sometimes, people lose the information about WHERE they are supposed to vote. Then the election arrives and they don’t vote. Don’t let that happen to you: check Rock the Vote’s website and we will give you that information (however, keep in mind that this information will not be available until pretty close to the election). You may also check your state’s website, or call your state at the number listed on page 2. This information should also be on the documents your state sends you once you register, so hold onto it.
5. BRING ID AND PROOF OF RESIDENCY WITH YOU
Basically, we think the safest thing for you to do is to bring government issued ID with you to the polls on Election Day. If your driver’s license or government ID matches the address you used to register to vote, that’s all you need. If this ID does not have the address that you used to register to vote, then you should bring a separate proof of residency document such as a financial aid letter from your school, a personal check that has your address on it, rent receipt, recent utility bill, etc. Pretty much everyone who uses the Internet to register to vote, or who is registering to vote for the first time at a particular address, is going to have to provide ID with residency. Check your state specific requirements. And if you forget on Election Day to bring your ID or you lose it for some reason, vote with a provisional ballot. Don’t leave without voting.
6. DON’T BE INTIMIDATED
You don’t have to be a genius or even politically oriented to be qualified to vote. Really, you just need to have an opinion. And in our experience, everyone has an opinion. We always encourage you to have an informed opinion and we have many resources on our website designed to help you learn about what is at stake and on the ballot. But don’t feel intimidated by the complexity of the issues – you don’t have to meet anyone else’s standard but your own. And secondly, the actual process for voting is really, really easy. It’s no harder than getting cash out of an ATM or filling out a standardized test. Don’t worry about it. Just vote.
Contact your state election official with any additional questions
Click here for the Secretaries of State/Elections Divisions
http://www.vote411.org/pollingplacebystate.php