For many college students, this will be their first time voting in a presidential election. The power to decide our future as a country is so exciting! But before we can do that, here are a few vital steps that students need to make sure they know before going to vote in November.
Make sure you are registered:
If you have not yet registered to vote that is one of the first things that need to be done. Many times, people are registered to vote without realizing it. You might have registered while in high school, or at the DMV when you got your license. No matter what the case, check to make sure you are registered. If you are not registered than you are not eligible to vote. Most states will allow you to register the day of the election at the polls. However, every state has different rules about registering to vote, research your state to make sure you follow the steps needed to register.
If High Point is not your voting district, it is important that you switch your voting status to an absentee vote. This allows you to vote, even if you are not in your assigned district. Most students will need to do this as they have moved away from their district to come to HPU.
You can register to vote online and apply for an absentee ballot at www.longdistancevoter.org
Know the issues:
Government can be confusing; there is no denying that. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost when trying to follow debates and constant changes that occur during the election process. This is why it is important to get to know the issues before you decide on what candidate to vote. Do some research; find out where you stand on some of the major issues that are discussed throughout presidential campaigning.
Some issues to consider might be: healthcare, taxes, immigration, military action, gun control, and more.
Choose your political party:
Once you have discovered your stance on the major issues it will start to become clear as to what your personal political stance may be. You can align your beliefs with those of democrat, republican, or other. Not everyone is either a democrat or republican, but they are the two most popular political parties. Each party has major differences that define themselves. It is important to know which party you are before going in to vote. This way you are clear on who you want to vote for. In many cases, you have to declare your party prior to voting.
Get to know the candidates:
Candidates run under a specific political party. Barack Obama is currently running for his second term as the Democratic candidate, and Mitt Romney is running as the Republican candidate. After you have declared your party, you can look at the candidate running under that party. Try researching them, watch some of their debates with the other candidates, and decide if you still agree with their stances If you believe that person is the best representation of what you believe, then that is the candidate to stand behind. Also, keep an ear out for any local debates or rally’s that you can attend. Going to these can help you learn even more about the candidate and the election process as a whole.
This is probably the most important step in the entire process. The person you decide to vote for will be the potential president of the United States. You want to make sure you are extremely confident with your vote before the Election Day.
The election process is one that can be both stressful and exciting. Doing what you can to be prepared is doing your part in choosing who will lead America in the next four years. If you follow these steps and are confident going into the voting poll, it can be a monumental time in your life. Every vote counts.