How to Make Sure Your Vote Counts in November

From Amy Dacey, Executive Director of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics at American University…

The time is now! Voting in the presidential election has already begun in some states.  Every state’s regulations and procedures are different, so it is vital that you understand the requirements and opportunities to vote where you live.

Here’s how to make sure you’re ready to vote, and that your vote will count.

Check your registration

Make sure that you are registered to vote at your current address. You may not have voted in a while. You may have moved or changed your name. You may have forgotten when you last registered to vote. Calling or visiting your secretary of state’s office or local Board of Elections may be a good place to start.

You can also visit Vote.org, Rock the Vote, I am a voter or the U.S. Vote Foundation, all nonprofit, nonpartisan websites providing lots of detailed information about voting rights, registration and the process of voting. It took only a few minutes online for me to verify my own registration and voter ID number.

The federal government offers lots of useful voting information, too.

Not registered? Register now!

If you’re not registered – whether you have never registered or your registration is out of date – there is still time. September 22 is National Voter Registration Day, when millions of individuals register to vote.

Each state has its own process and deadlines, and you may be able to register online through Vote.org, which can take less than two minutes.

If you’d rather register to vote on paper, download and print a simple form from the federal government, which asks you to provide some personal information, like your name and address. The instructions give state-specific details and provide the mailing address you need to send the form to.

While you’re at it, encourage your friends to register too.

For the rest, click here.