Voting registration deadlines approach
In this Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, a person drops applications for mail-in-ballots into a mail box in Omaha, Neb. U.S. Postal Service warnings that it can’t guarantee ballots sent by mail will arrive on time have put a spotlight on the narrow timeframes most states allow to request and return those ballots. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
As November approaches, voters are preparing to head to the polls for the presidential election. Registering to vote can be done in person or online, but it is necessary to vote in the 2020 presidential election.
For residents of Tennessee, registering online can be done at GoVoteTN. For residents of other states, registering to vote can be done through state government websites. To avoid scams, registering to vote should only be done on websites where the URL ends in “.gov”.
Registering in-person can be done at the local courthouse. In order to complete the hard copy form, it is necessary to present a social security card. In some areas, it is also required to present a driver’s license or another form of identification as proof of residency in that specific area.
Registration must be completed at least thirty days prior to the election date. Oct. 5 is the last day to register for Tennessee residents.
Those who live out of state can request Absentee ballots. Absentee ballot requests are available until Oct. 27. The process of requesting an absentee ballot varies from state to state, but the information can be found on each state government website.
Young voters account for half of the voting population, accordin to Brookings. Despite this statistic, older generations of Americans are more likely to vote than younger generations. The Pew Research Center found that Millennials, who are projected to surpass Baby Boomers as the United States’ largest living adult generation, are also approaching the Boomers in their share of the American electorate.
Early voting begins Oct. 14 and ends Oct. 29 for Tennessee residents.
“Voting...is an important way to guard the rights and liberties of citizens,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science Mark Scully.
Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. As American citizens, Scully believes we should strive to maintain and preserve our rights through voting.
Carley Crawford, an exercise science pre-athletic major, worked a local election in her hometown. Crawford expressed her high opinion of voting, as well as working an election.
“It was enlightening to experience the behind-the-scenes action that goes into an election,” said Crawford.
For more voting resources, visit the Clarion’s Resource Page. Students, faculty and staff may also contact the Office of Community Relations at bmccoy@leeuniversity.edu for more information.
