Voting on Election Day

How to Cast Your Vote for the First Time

Oct 14, 2008 Dresden Quinn Jones

Voting for the first time may seem intimidating and confusing. Here are some simple steps to follow to make sure it gets done right!

Many people are voting for the first time in the 2008 Presidential Election. The political debates and discussions have renewed energy in many citizens and inspired them to vote. So what needs to get done before November 4th, 2008 in order to be eligible to vote?

Basic Requirements

• The voter must be 18 years old on or before Election Day.
• The voter must be a legal U.S. resident.

In addition to the basic requirements, voters must register to vote before they can actually cast their vote.

How to Register

Different states have different requirements for registration. For example, in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming, a voter can register at their polling place on Election Day. However, in order to do that, the voter is required to bring various documents, such as a valid state I.D. or drivers license and possibly other proof of residency. Check out MTV's voter information website, rockthevote.com, for state specific information.

Generally, voters can register by filing out a simple form and mailing it to the proper office in their state. But for most states, there is a deadline for doing this. Make sure to find out the requirements by contacting the local Board of Elections.

If a voter has relocated to a new state or moved to a new city or neighborhood, they must register to vote in their new location. If the state allows registering on Election Day, the voter must bring a valid form of I.D. as well as a utility bill to prove residency to the polling place. Again, requirements vary state to state and can be found online or by calling 1-866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683).

Election Day Process

Once a voter is registered (or plans to register at their polling place on Election Day if their state permits it), they must determine where they go to vote. The Voter Registration Card, which the voter will receive one they register, will tell the voter the location of their polling place. However, if the voter plans to register at the polling place, they can find their polling place ahead of time online or by contacting their Board of Elections. Where one votes is determined by their address.

Once the voter determines their polling place, they need to decide when they want to vote. Most employers will let they employees take time off to vote. However, there is no Federal Law that requires them to do so. Most states have laws that allow employees to take reasonable time off to vote but they vary state to state. Find the laws for each state about voting during work time.

Most voters can expect to have to wait in line for some amount of time, depending on the size of the community and what time of day it is. Each site has polling officials and volunteers who can assist voters.

Additional Information

Voters will also be asked to elect local officals, as well as candidates running for the House and Senate. Become familiar with those candidates as well as the Presidential candidates, in order to make the best decision possible.

The copyright of the article Voting on Election Day in American Affairs is owned by Dresden Quinn Jones. Permission to republish Voting on Election Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.