With the presidential elections right around the corner and many Milligan students at school away from home, how to vote became a major question. In this report, I sought out the answers and provided an easy to follow guide. This story was also published in the print edition of the Milligan Stampede on February 4, 2016.
The 2016 presidential elections are inching ever closer, but it can be confusing or even daunting to figure out how to vote when you are away from home.
“It’s a lot of forms to print and sign in,” sophomore Taylor Martin said. “I thought it would all be online.”
Martin is from Richmond, Virginia and is looking into the voting process.
In order to vote outside of your state of residence, you must register and request an absentee ballot.
Tracy Harris, Carter County administrator of elections, has forms Tennessee residents can mail to their local election commission to request an absentee ballot. She says the process is different for every state.
Tennessee
GoVoteTN.com
- Registration deadline for primary election: Feb. 1, 2016
- Primary Election: March 1, 2016
- Registration deadline for county general election: July 5, 2016
- County General Election: Aug. 4, 2016
- Registration deadline for presidential general election: Oct. 11, 2016
- Presidential General Election: Nov. 8, 2016
Tennessee residents can register to vote by downloading and mailing forms available at govotetn.com. You can also check your voter registration status. Tennessee state law requires voters to vote in person the first time they vote.
An absentee ballot can be requested by filling out a form that is available at share.tn.gov/sos/election/bymail.htm. The form must be mailed to your local election office and received at least seven days before the election.
Indiana
IndianaVoters.com
- Registration deadline for primary election: April 4, 2016
- Primary Election: May 3, 2016
- Registration deadline for general election: Oct. 11, 2016
- General Election: Nov. 8, 2016
Residents of Indiana can register online or by mail at IndianaVoters.com at least 29 days before the election.
Absentee ballot requests must be received at least eight days before the election. Forms are available at in.gov/sos/elections/2402.htm.
Maryland
voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration
- Registration deadline for primary election: April 5, 2016
- Primary Election: April 26, 2016
- Registration deadline for general election: Nov. 18, 2016
- General Election: Nov. 8, 2016
Registration and absentee ballot requests can both be completed entirely online for Maryland residents.
Florida
dos.myflorida.com/elections
- Registration deadline for primary election: Feb. 16, 2016
- Primary Election: March 15, 2016
- General Election: Nov. 8, 2016
Florida voter registration must be completed at least 29 days before the election. Registration can be completed by mail. A form is available online.
Absentee ballot requests require voters to contact their local supervisor of elections at least six days before the election.
Virginia
elections.virginia.gov
- Registration deadline for primary election: Feb. 8, 2016
- Primary Election: March 1, 2016
- General Election: Nov. 8, 2016
Registration in Virginia can be completed online, but absentee ballots must be requested by mail. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by February 23, 2016.
Kentucky
elect.ky.gov
- Primary Election: May 17, 2016
- General Election: Nov. 8,
Registration in Kentucky can be turned in by mail. Forms are available for download online. You must register at least 29 days before the election.
In order to request an absentee ballot, Kentucky residents must contact their respective county clerk. Absentee ballots must be requested at least 12 working days before the election.
Details and links to information on other states are available online at usa.gov/register-to-vote.
“My philosophy on politics is that you can’t have an opinion if you don’t vote,” Martin said.
No comments :
Post a Comment