Contributed by Estella Lavrik and her committee with Student Government—Students Speak Up for Kids Volunteers.
Overview
Voting is a big part of being a citizen, and it is important because it’s how you get your voice heard in the government! The candidates you vote for at a local, state, and even national level are the people who make decisions about you and who you’re surrounded by. Voting allows you to elect officials who you trust to represent your ideals and advocate for you.
Some people may not vote because they think that since their ballot is just one out of thousands or even millions, it doesn’t make any difference. However, the whole point of voting is that votes build up. Every vote counts, and “just one vote” could be the deciding factor in an election!
Voting Requirements
In order to vote, you need to make sure that you fulfill the prerequisites:
You need to be a US citizen.
You need to be 18 years old on or before election day.
You need to have been registered to vote.
It is also required for you to bring your driver’s license or other kind of photo identification with your signature. This requirement does vary across different states, so it is recommended to do some research on what the laws are in your state.
How to Vote
In Florida, we have a few different options on how to vote, so choose the one that works best for you:
By Mail: Voting by mail is often considered the easiest and most convenient; vote-by-mail upon request can be done at home.
During Early Voting: In order to find out information about how to vote early, you can contact your local election office online, call them, or ask in person. This way you can learn the dates, times, and locations for early voting near you.
Election Day: Voting on Election Day is done in person at the ballot place assigned for your area. You can also find out information on where, when, and what time this will be by contacting your local election office.
How to Register
The most crucial step to take in order to vote is to register yourself. Otherwise, you will not be able to vote. You can register online, by mail, or in person. It is recommended that you research the laws of your state and your area. Many states will allow 16 or 17-year-olds to pre-register; however, no actual voting can be done until you are 18.
To register, you must provide a state-issued driver’s license or another form of identification and the last four digits of your social security number. The site for registering online or acquiring the printable form for mail voting is vote.gov. The form would then be mailed to your location election office.
Lastly, in-person voting can be done with the same aforementioned requirements in places such as your local election office, The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or public assistance agencies.
Final Thoughts: Preparing to Vote
Another important aspect of voting is conducting your own prior research. To find the candidate that most aligns with your values, research every candidate, what they’ve said, who they support, and policies they’ve put in place or plan to put in place. Research can be conducted in many different ways, including online, through news outlets, and at your local library. The important takeaway here, regardless of what your political beliefs are, is to be educated about your decision and understand who it truly is you’re voting for.
If a certain issue is important to you, find out which of the candidates will pay most attention to that or who aim to provide actionable solutions. Don’t base your vote off of prior bias, what your peers or family members say, or what the general public says; instead, base your vote off of your own values and the research you conducted.
Every single vote counts, so make sure your voice is a part of our government!
