Voting is a fundamental aspect of our lives here in the United states especially as we get closer to November. Sayings such as “ Your vote matters ” or “ Be smart do your part, VOTE!,” have been made up to put more emphasis on just how important voting is. Depending on who you are voting for it can have a significant impact on your life and those around you lives.
For instance, even if your vote alone does not elect a president, it will eventually accumulate with others in your voting district and make a difference. It’s viewed as such a pivotal task because it allows you to let your voice be heard and take a stand for issues that are important to you.
In Indiana, in order to vote you must meet a few qualifications before you are eligible. The first thing requirement is that you need to be a U.S. citizen, as well as a resident of Indiana. You also need to be registered to the precinct you are going to vote for at least 30 days beforehand. The age requirement is a minimum of 18 years or you need to be turning legal age before the next general or municipal election. The last requirement you need to meet is that you can not currently be in prison.
There are various ways for you to register to vote this year such as downloading an app called VoterPal, which was designed for simplifying the entire process. The only requirements for the app is your state ID and a few minutes of spare time. This method of registering is easily accessible and is a more time efficient process in comparison to in-person voting.
Currently, 38 states are offering online registration from a variety of websites including IWillVote.com, www.vote.com, or vote.gov. These are all good websites to use if you are looking for another more manageable method of voting.
Due to COVID-19 an attempt to make the process safer, mailing a registration form is available. Depending on your state the rules may vary, but luckily in Indiana they provide you a form you can print and mail out. All of the previous information including the form and different polling areas around Indiana can be found at In.gov. Polling areas may vary from places such as your local churches or schools around Marion County.
After registering, you will have the opportunity to vote early before the set election day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Indiana residents who would like to vote before election day must go through a process called absentee in-person voting. Counties make in-person absentee voting available for 28-days prior to the election. All Indiana counties must make in-person absentee voting available at least two Saturdays before the election.
As November comes around, an important thing to remember is that your vote and your voice do matter and getting through the somewhat long process is all for the greater good. Regardless of if you are voting in person, on an app, or by mail the power to inhibit change in the United States is within your hands. Make sure to get out and vote and encourage others to do the same.