The presidential race of 2016 is almost over! But before we can celebrate the end of this controversial presidential race, we have to vote. November 8th is election day, Anteaters. And for most of us, this presidential race presents us with our first opportunity to vote for the next President of the United States. Because this is the first vote for many of us, we may have some questions about what to do on November 8th. Below are some things to remember when voting this election season.
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Before voting, it is a good idea to do some research on the propositions you’ll be voting for on the California ballot this year. To find out more information on the proposed propositions, check out the following resources:
a. The official California voter guide: http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/en/propositions/
b. A website that offers a nonpartisan, brief, and easy to understand explanation of the propositions and the arguments for and against them: https://ballot.fyi/
c.The official voter information guide that should be mailed to you.
2. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, you can vote early on campus at the UCI flagpoles from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For early voting, anyone registered in Orange Country can vote at the flagpoles on Nov. 1! On the official election day (Nov. 8) you will have to go to your official designated voting place to vote.
3. You can also vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To find your polling place, check your mailbox to see if your designated polling location has been mailed to you. You can also check the location of your polling place with this link: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
a. If you’re registered to vote with your current address and you live on campus, your polling place might be Mesa Court Community Center, Middle Earth, University Hills Community Center, Verano Place Commons, or Camino Del Sol. Before going to these polling locations, check your mail or the online link to verify that one of these on- campus polling places is your designated polling place.
b. For more information on voting on campus, take a look at ASUCI’s website: http://www.asuci.uci.edu/ucivote/
4. For information on what to bring to the polling place on Nov. 8, including whether or not to bring a photo I.D. check out: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/what-bring/
No matter who you vote for on Nov. 8, make sure you get out to the polls and vote. The next President of the United States, combined with the propositions that pass in the state of California, have the potential to greatly impact our society in the next four years, and as college students, the next four years are going to entail our emergence into the workforce and our first big steps as adults. Make sure your voice is heard! Have a happy and fun Election Day, Anteaters!