Voting Guidance for (Intimidated) First Timers
If this is your first election year as an eligible voter, it is common to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to feel intimidated and lost about the whole political process. While it’s fairly easy to show up at the polls the first Tuesday of November to voice your choice of the next POTUS, will you be prepared to make a choice of the several other offices and referendums that will also be on that ballot?
Are you aware that there isn’t just one election every four years? There are important elections every year and often times, multiple elections in a year. This year there are four in my home state. All of them extremely important, with the first coming up in about a week!
If you want to start getting politically active by becoming a regular voter but may be intimidated about how to go about it, I can help you. Believe me that once you get started and finally do it, it becomes much easier! Eventually you’ll just have to show up and make your voice heard. The more elections you participate in, the more you will influence!
1. First thing — Registering to vote
You can register to vote at any time, including the day of the election at the polls. But it is much easier to do online. Google “Register to vote” with your state and you’ll find the links you need to do so. Online and in person will require a valid government photo ID.
myvote.wi.gov is a great resource for all things related to voting in Wisconsin.
2. Finding out when the elections are and what they are for
Perform a search with “the year and your state election days.”
For example, searching “2020 Wisconsin election dates” you will discover there are four elections happening statewide.
1. Spring Primary — February 18, 2020
2. Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary — April 7, 2020
3. Partisan Primary — August 11, 2020
4. General and Presidential Election — November 3, 2020.
The ballots will be different depending on where you live, as you may be voting for local offices like aldermen and school board members, referendums and most importantly for the city of Appleton, your new Mayor! These elections are just as important.
Typically you will be able to view a sample ballot several weeks ahead of time to see what you will be voting for and who will be running for those offices. In Wisconsin, MyVote once again is a great place to find these sample ballots. This is the best time to start researching the candidates if you are undecided.
3. How To Vote — You don’t have to do it on election day
Yes, it’s a cool feeling to go to the polls on election day and wait in line to go into the booth to make your selections. But there are other ways to vote ahead of time if you can’t do it the old school way at the polls.
The absentee ballot is very helpful for those who may be in college out of state, away from home on a trip, or living with a disability. MyVote Wisconsin is one place where you can order your absentee ballot. For those who are still local but don’t want to deal with the election day hassle or can’t make the time for whatever reason, you also can vote absentee ahead of time.
If you work during an election day, in many states you are legally allowed to leave work unpaid for a small duration of hours. You must notify your employer before that day. Research about your states laws beforehand. You may ABSENTEE in these cases if you cannot get off of your responsibilities. There is no excuse.
If you are looking to absentee, registering sooner is better! Click here and add the state that your government ID is from.
You will need to check with your municipality to see when and where to do this. But the usual is that absentee voting starts about two weeks prior to the election day and goes up to the Friday prior to election day. The voting location typically is located at the city hall.
If you plan on doing things old school you will need to locate where your polling place is according to your address. Ensure you have a proper government ID when registering to vote online or in person. Depending on the location, time of day and the importance of the election, the wait times can vary from immediate to several hours. Be prepared ahead of time. Also note that the wearing of any candidate or political party swag is forbidden and considered electioneering. Don’t do it.
4. Final facts and thoughts
Once you are done you should remain registered to vote indefinitely as long as you continue to vote at least semi-regularly. You won’t have to re-register every election. Just show up to the polls next time and give ’em your ID.
After voting for the first time, you hopefully will find a sense of satisfaction in doing what you can to have your voice heard. If you aren’t a white male, generations before you fought and died for these rights to vote. If its needs to be put into perspective, mostly everyone who isn’t the aforementioned white male has not yet reached 100 years of voting.
And today, Republicans are continuing to try to disenfranchise poor and minority voters, specifically by gerrymandering the voting districts in order for them to remain in power.
It is up to the younger generations to fight back and take the power.
