It’s that time again, a presidential election year! That means it’s time to watch debates, have some of your own, read up on platforms, and make sure you’re registered to vote. But how? Fortunately for us young voters, registration is made very easy. Along with the lovely volunteers who will no doubt be on campus to aid the registration process, you can download the form and either turn in your application in person or mail it in yourself.
When you begin your registration process, remember you must mail the completed form in at least 25 days prior to voting. If you are planning to vote in the next presidential election, you must register by mid-October, since Election Day is Nov. 8, 2016. The good news is filling out the application is quick and very easy–it only took me 5 minutes and you can download the form online and fill it out on your computer, except for your signature. The tough part is knowing with which party (if any) you affiliate with. You can identify as a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian, Unaffiliated, or Other. This is your choice to make, so think on it. Take to the Internet, do your research and talk to your friends, but remember there is no shame in being different.
So what other requirements are there? First of all, you must be a citizen of the USA who is or will be 18 by the election. Second, you must fill the form out truthfully; to lie is a Class I Felony, so no funny business! Third, you have to live where you will be voting for at least 30 days before the election. You will vote in the county you register in, whether that be in person or through an absentee ballot, so keep that in mind! A mail-in absentee ballot can be sent to any North Carolina voter by request of that voter or a “near relative.” A near relative is defined as a “spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild” by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. When voting through an absentee ballot, witnesses must be present. After voting, you can return the ballot by mail or in person (through a near relative)–but it must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Above all else when it comes to election time, do your research. It is important to know whom you are voting for and why, but also whom you are not voting for and why. Regardless of how things turn out, you want to know who it is that is the face and leader of our country. So get out there, get registered and start paying attention, November will be here sooner than you think!