To vote is to exercise your right within our democracy. Though it may seem like you have little power over the state of the country’s often hectic government, this year’s midterm elections are a tool to enact the change you want to see.
Chances are, if you’ve been walking around the city of Philadelphia, you’ve experienced a run-in with canvassers asking about your voter registration status. It’s incredibly easy to pass these groups by and take a passive approach to this year’s midterm elections. Yet, the easy way out is not the best route to attaining the change you want to see in state and local governments.
Since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s, regardless of class, education, or race, women have consistently enjoyed the right to vote. The success of our nation’s foremothers in securing our current rights cannot be acknowledged, however, without also noting the hard-fought battles that had to be won along the way.
Such struggles for equality have become especially salient today, as topics such as a woman’s reproductive rights are on the ballot. Now is the time to get out of your head and into a voting booth.
This November, a myriad of issues on the ballot could alter the face of Pennsylvania’s political landscape depending on the election’s results. So, whether you are a political science major or have never registered to vote, this is your guide to becoming active in your constituency.
1. Check your voter registration status
If this is your first go-around at voting in Philadelphia, it can seem overwhelming to be a part of such a vast voting district. The best place to start is to check your voter registration status. There is no shortage of websites that will help you do so. I recommend using Pennsylvania’s Department of State’s website. This is the fastest way to check your registration status either by your name or driver’s license number. If this isn’t feasible, then simply go to your local election office and fill out the necessary information there. The last date to register to vote in Pennsylvania is October 24th.
2. Determine if you will require a mail-in or absentee ballot
If you are an out-of-state or just an out-of-town student and you would like to vote as part of your hometown constituency, now is the time to decide if you will need a mail-in ballot to get your vote out. These ballots are to be used when you can’t make it to a polling location in person. Applications for mail-in ballots must be received by November 1st, and they must be mailed back quickly in order for them to have ample time to be processed through the postal system. Thus, if you have not yet requested a mail-in or absentee ballot, the best method to get your vote in is to register right in Philadelphia.
3. Find your polling place
Websites such as https://www.planmyballot.com are simple, easily accessible resources that will verify your voter registration status as well as create a voting plan in a matter of minutes. The website through Pennsylvania’s Department of State (https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/pollingplaceinfo.aspx) can also be utilized to find your local polling place. If you are choosing to register in Philadelphia and vote around Temple University’s campus, there are multiple polling places within walking distance. All you need to do as a voter is determine which one of those locations belongs to your specific precinct.
4. Finalize your voting plan
Between October 24th and November 8th, voting is open! Find a date and time that works well for you, whether it be between classes or before going to work, there is always time to participate in our democracy. On November 8th, election day, polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., so make a pact with your friends or roommates to vote together whenever it is convenient. Voting with people that you trust and will respect your voting choices will ensure that you get out to vote and that you feel safe doing so. If anybody needs some extra motivation to cast their ballot, suggest grabbing lunch together after the fact, or even just coffee. This makes voting not only a responsibility- but also a fun outing!
When all the steps necessary to go vote are broken down, it really becomes a piece of cake to turn your opinion into public policy. Although registering and creating a voting plan are necessary steps to take when becoming an involved citizen- the road to casting your ballot doesn’t stop there. The most important steps are to take the initiative and educate yourself about the candidates and issues that will affect the world you inhabit- the world you have power over.