{"id":64137,"date":"2022-08-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymove.com\/?p=64137"},"modified":"2022-08-16T13:14:43","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T13:14:43","slug":"first-time-voters-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymove.com\/moving\/paperwork\/first-time-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"First-Time Voters Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve recently moved, you\u2019ve probably already changed your address, but did you remember to update your voter registration<\/a>? For those who are voting for the first time, no worries; registering to vote is easy! Every state is a bit different regarding voter registration laws, so make sure you visit your state\u2019s election website<\/a> for more details. However, all states have these three rules in common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. You must be a U.S. citizen.<\/li>
  2. You must be a resident of the state you are registering to vote in.<\/li>
  3. You must be at least 18 years old.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re in college<\/a> and want to vote, don\u2019t forget to add your voter registration card to your packing list<\/a>. The voting process for college students is actually easier than you might think.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Out-of-state students:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re an out-of-state college student, you have two options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Submit a mail-in ballot to vote in your home state.<\/li>
    2. Change your address and voter registration to the state you are currently attending school, locate your nearest polling place, and vote in person.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Important note: <\/em><\/strong>Keep in mind that registering to vote in more than one state is illegal. You can either register to vote in your home state or the state where you attend school.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      In-state students:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      If you\u2019re an in-state student, the process is a bit simpler. Just find your local polling place and go vote. You can also request a mail-in ballot even if you are at school in your home state.You can find your designated polling place and mail-in options by visiting your state\u2019s election office website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Why voting matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      You might not think that one vote out of millions of others can possibly make a difference, right? Well, it turns out your vote does indeed matter. Most states have a system where the popular vote winner often claims the state\u2019s electoral votes, although there have been times candidates who won the popular vote did not get the overall electoral vote. Your vote is part of the popular vote. This means that if your vote joins others in your voting district, your vote could make a difference in the electoral results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      There\u2019s so much more to voting than just the presidential elections. You should also consider participating in your state\u2019s local government elections. Did you know that less than 15% of eligible voters<\/a> were turning out to vote for local office positions? A lower turnout of voters means that local government positions such as mayor, council members, and city\/town directors are only being determined by a limited group of people. Your singular vote has a lot of weight behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The 26th Amendment – the right to vote at 18<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      On July <\/strong>1, <\/strong>1971, the U.S. ratified the 26th Amendment<\/a> to the Constitution, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and forbids federal and state entities from discriminating among any voter based on age as long as they are at least 18 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Americans used to have to be 21 years old to vote, but with so many young men between the ages of 18 to 20 being drafted to fight in Vietnam, Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1970, which lowered the age to 18. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Step-by-step guide for first-time voters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Now that you know why you should vote and your rights as a voter, you may be wondering how<\/em> to vote. The voting process is actually quite simple. We\u2019ve provided a step-by-step guide on how to vote below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Step 1: Determine your state\u2019s registration deadlines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Your first step should be figuring out your state\u2019s voter registration deadlines<\/a>. Each state has its own deadline that voters must register before to make sure they can vote in an upcoming election. For most states, the deadline is usually around 15 to 30 days<\/a> before an election, but check your state\u2019s specific registration deadlines just to be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Step 2: Register to vote<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Once you\u2019ve determined your state\u2019s registration deadlines, it\u2019s actually time to begin the registration process<\/a>. In terms of how you go about registering to vote, you\u2019ve got a few options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n