5 Tips For First-Time Voters!

Voting for the first time can be daunting, especially as a high schooler, but it doesn’t have to be. The first step to voting is registering to vote. So whether this is your first time voting or you need to vote in a new state, here’s your guide to voting for the upcoming general election!

1. Register To Vote

You can register to vote in your state multiple different ways -- online, in person at your local election office, or by mail. Online is by far the most simple and efficient way to register, but in-person and mail are always available. Regardless of your state or county, the easiest way to register is to go to vote.gov and select your state to start your registration process. Some additional options include your local DMV or SNAP/Food Stamps office. This is the most important step as each state has different deadlines for registration, so be sure to check your state’s voting registration policies.

2. Check Your Status

If you’ve voted before, chances are you are already registered and do not need to renew or re register to vote. However, if you change addresses, you should update your information to ensure you are voting in the right district and precinct. You can check your registration status online at your state's voting site. You will need to provide your full name, birthday, and oftentimes your social security number to access your information (don’t worry, it’s secure). Your information should appear including the date you registered, your polling place, information to apply to vote absentee by mail, and update information.

3. Decide Your Voting Method

You no longer have to vote in-person at your polling place; you can always submit an absentee mail on the ballot. Unfortunately, no online voting has taken place. However, your polling place is typically within proximity to you. Normally, a local school or other sanctioned area could sometimes even be within walking distance. If you won’t be in the town you’re registered in on November 5th, or anticipate any trouble getting back to that area, you should look into voting via mail-in ballot. 

4. Apply to Vote Early

Depending on your state, you can cast your vote early. For example, I’m registered to vote in Virginia, and early voting started on September 20th. Early voting will end on November 2nd, so if I want to vote early because I'm out of town and don't want to submit an absentee ballot, I can contact my General Registrar's Office to find out what jurisdiction I'm registered in to cast my early vote.

5. Cast Your Vote on Election Day

The last and final step is to go to your polling place or send out your mail-in ballot to cast your vote. You can find your polling place by looking at your voter registration information. Some people have work or school off this day, so you can have time to visit your polling place to cast your vote. Be sure to map your commute prior, and if you do have work or school, plan around your day to head over and cast your vote. When you go to your polling place, you should have a valid ID, most commonly a state-issued ID, Driver’s License, Military ID, Passport, School ID from an in-state school, etc. Visit your state’s list of acceptable forms of ID to ensure you will be able to vote on election day.

Once you arrive, staff will be available to assist you in voting. This year will be my first time voting inperson after spending the last few years voting via absentee ballot, so I’ll be joining the millions of Americans casting their vote for the presidential election on November 5th, and you should too. Visit vote.org for more information on how to vote!