If you’re at least eighteen years old and a US citizen, you can probably vote in the election on November 5. And you should! Voting is one of the key ways that Americans make their opinions known. Those who vote with the majority might see the winning candidates turn their opinions into laws and rules. That’s the basic premise of democracy.
That’s also not how elections necessarily work. One reason is that every state has different policies for who actually has the right to vote and how easy or hard it is to cast your ballot. For example:
- States have different policies about whether people who break a law can vote. If you live in Mississippi and you overdraw your bank account by writing a check or sending a Venmo payment for more money than you actually have, you might be bounced from the voter rolls. Maine, Vermont, and Washington, DC, on the other hand, allow you to vote even if you’re serving time in a penitentiary.
- Because of different residency requirements, some states allow out-of-state college students to register and vote where they go to school. Others, such as those that require people to live in the state for thirty days before registering, might not allow newcomers to cast their ballots there. Text messages sent to students in Wisconsin warning “Don’t vote in a state where you’re not eligible” might discourage them from voting.
- Four states don’t allow people to vote before Election Day, which can make it hard for people who go to school or work all day—as most people do—to vote.
- Twenty-six states say that you have to show a photo ID at the polls. Fifteen others accept a hunting license or student ID.
It can even be complicated just to figure out how to register to vote.
- Twenty-four states plus DC automatically register voters when they get their driver’s license or official state identification card.
- And twenty-two states plus DC let people register the same day they vote!
- But eight states require a personal appearance in advance with all the mandated forms of ID—and not necessarily at a convenient location.
As a result, only about one-third of Americans who are eligible to vote are registered. We have one of the lowest registration rates in the world.
The process needn’t be as complex as it is. Canada automatically registers its citizens on their eighteenth birthday. Some countries, including Australia, require citizens to vote; as a result, more than 90 percent of them do.
If you think it should be easier for people to vote or if you think the rules should be more consistent around the country, these issues point to a good reason for you to vote or to encourage eligible voters to register and go to the polls: Elect candidates who will develop ways to allow more Americans to participate in the electoral process!
- If you’re not yet eligible to vote, here are ways you help those who can.• Learn about local voting rules and reach out to people who might not be registered.
- Study the candidates and share what you’ve learned about their policies.
- Join a phone bank or write postcards supporting the candidates you like.
- Canvass (knock on doors and leave voter information) for the candidates you support. It’s best to do this with a group of people.
Fault Lines in the Constitution 