With the presidential election only a month away, many students at The University of Alabama will participate in the political process and cast votes in November’s general election. For some, 2016 will be their first time ever to vote in national, state and local elections.
In order to vote, there is a lot of information students need to know to make sure they will not be turned away at the polls. The following is a list of the crucial steps voters must follow if they want to participate in the general election on Nov. 8.
How to register to vote: To be allowed to cast a vote in the election, every person must be registered. Every state has different deadlines.
For Alabama residents, the deadline is Oct. 24. Registration is free, and students can view a list of all deadlines by state, by visiting NASS.org and clicking on “voter registration deadlines.”
College students are also now able to use absentee ballots to vote. The deadline for Alabama students requesting an absentee ballot is Nov. 3, and it must be hand delivered or postmarked no later than Nov. 7. Deadlines vary state to state.
Many students have already taken advantage of this new change. Gerald Frass, a sophomore majoring in political science and economics, and a member of The University of Alabama College Republicans, said he is voting via an absentee ballot from South Dakota.
Where to vote: Every person has a different polling location depending on where he or she lives.
To get the most up to date information on where to vote visit vote411.org. This website makes it easy, and allows students to enter the address that they are registered to vote through and provides the most up to date polling information at the click of a button.
What is needed to vote: In recent years, many states have adopted new laws regarding what kind of ID has to be shown in order to vote. In Alabama, voters can use various forms of government ID to vote, including a driver’s license. If a voter does not have one of the many approved forms listed on alabamavoterid.com, he or she can receive a free Alabama photo voter ID from various locations listed on the site.
University of Alabama students are able to use their ACT card as an acceptable form of ID for voting.
What is on the ballot: The ballots will contain more than just the presidential race. Ballots vary from state to state, and even from city to city. Elections for local and state government, as well as state constitutional amendments will also be up for a vote.
Students can view what is going to be on the ballot for their specific voting zone at ballotpedia.org.
When to vote: Election Day is always held the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. This year, election day is Nov. 8.
“The election we have coming up it is incredibly important for everyone to get out and voice their opinion,” said Patrick Fitzgerald a senior majoring in political science and a member of The University of Alabama College Democrats. “The upcoming election is going to set the precedent for how the country is run for the next 25 to 30 years because of all the Supreme Court justices that will be named in the next four to eight years.”
