Voting for a president only happens about 15 times in your lifetime. It is exciting, challenging and meaningful.
Early voting starts this week and the time has arrived for decisions. This article will provide links and details on how, when and where you can vote along with suggestions to keep it simple.
With early voting set to start this week in Texas and in Tarrant County, you can finally get a chance to express your personal opinion and make your decision as an adult voting member in one of the leading democracies in the world. Sounds intimating? It is not really. It is a simple process.
What is behind all the fuss?
It is a presidential voting year that only occurs every four years, though it feels like every year. It is a very contentious election conducted in a time of a worldwide pandemic and promises to be one with record numbers of ballots cast.
Here are things to consider as you decide to vote or maybe not ...
- Don’t miss the opportunity. Your vote is just one among millions but it still counts.
- You don’t have many chances to vote for the highest office. If you live the average years of life expectancy in US (now close to 79 years), you could have 15 chances to cast your vote for a president (assuming you start at the age of 18).
- The world will not end on or after election day, don’t be afraid. This nation has survived presidents dying in office, presidential assassinations, worldwide and national economic depressions, international wars, riots in the streets (long before today’s events), and even a civil war.
- Don’t be intimated to try, it is simple – be a registered voter (check the highlighted link to see if you are registered and if all your information is current), have an acceptable form of ID, and go to a voting location (remember you may vote at any site in Tarrant County during early voting) and finally, vote.
- Early voting starts this Tuesday, October 13 and continues until to October 30, 2020, with weekend options. The election date is Tuesday, November 3.
- If you are voting in person, you don’t have to answer any questions except to provide the needed information, sign the voting roll, vote, and then go get a double dutch chocolate ice cream sundae and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. (Note: the sundae is optional).
- Don’t get intimated by all the names and offices listed on the ballot. It is a very long ballot that does include local city and school board elections. You have the option of just voting on one race or as many as you feel comfortable in doing. Your ballot will still be counted.
- Do get a sample ballot. You can download the sample (or have a friend or a family member do it for you – it is legal), study it, mark it, bring it with you when you vote, use it to fill out your official ballot and it is all legal. However, you may not use your phone while voting. Don’t even try to open it or look at it!
- The best time to vote is your call, but it is not always on election day when there may be long lines and it can be a little more intimidating. Voting early offers you a chance to check the calendar, choose your time and your best location that is within the county, and go vote. Election Day Information
- And, you can still request a ballot by mail if meet the qualifications. Mark it, seal it, and either mail it back, drop it off in person at a designated site or bring it on election day and leave it at your designated polling location.
“Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights.” Social Studies/Civics/U.S. History Grades 5-6 National Geographic
