Let’s hear you say, “It’s go time!” Early voting will soon be open in almost every state, and there’s already so much buzz about it. Since this Presidential race is so close, every vote counts. Young people have the opportunity to break participation records this year, and early voting can help with that. What used to be a popular voting option for just elders is now trending for everyone—Here’s how you can participate.
Americans can feel the magnitude of this election and are making sure they play their part. For example, Georgia is a swing state, meaning whichever direction its voters lean can determine the election outcome. On Tuesday, their first day of early voting, they received a record-breaking turnout, with over 310,000 votes cast. Want better news? Georgia is not an anomaly. Another swing state, North Carolina, set a record on its first day of early voting, casting over 350,000 ballots on Thursday. People are voting as soon as possible as they know what’s at stake.
The big-ticket items, meaning the issues that most Americans want addressed, are the economy, abortion, immigration, and foreign policy. Five candidates are still in the race, but the primary party candidates, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, have the leads. One of those two is likely to win, and they have different approaches to tackling those significant issues. Whoever takes office will change the country’s trajectory, and every person who calls America home has the opportunity to contribute to which direction the country will go.
The most reliable way to ensure participation is by voting early. Election day, November 5, is two weeks away. There’s no telling what could happen in two weeks that could prevent anyone from getting to the polls. That’s a reason early voting is available: so that Americans don’t have to bank on one day for their voice to be heard. This option can be most beneficial to Gen Z. The Harris campaign has promoted early voting as a large block of her supporters, young people, tend to be unreliable. How many of you have missed a class or canceled plans because “you didn’t feel like going.” That’s not shade; it’s just the reality— young people can be fickle. Since that’s a fact, Gen Z should take advantage of the early voting option!
“I love voting early,” says Danielle S. Reed, a Georgia voter, “I just love the convenience of it. This is my second time voting early.” For those at work, in school, or with children, early voting times may fit better into your schedule. Along with convenience, the stakes are high, and not relying on election day is mistake-proof. Reed does social justice work in the nonprofit sector and has seen a push to convince people to vote early since this election is critical. “For anyone who is a woman, this election is historic… especially for young people who dream and want change.” It’s go-time for Gen Z.
Voting early is simple, though the rules and timelines differ by state. You can vote by mail or in person at designated polling stations. If you desire to vote by mail, you must request a ballot. Check your state’s regulations to discover the deadline for that. If you notice the words absentee ballot and vote-by-mail used interchangeably – don’t be alarmed. Absentee refers to someone who can’t physically be present at a voting center on Election Day. All absentee ballots are sent through the mail, but not all ballots sent through the mail are absentee ballots. Some people may want to vote by mail for convenience, even though they can go to a physical location. That’s technically a person voting by mail and not absentee. But again, some districts use the term interchangeably, so it doesn’t matter if you can go physically or not; the rules for requesting a mail-in ballot are the same.
Along with mailing in your ballot to vote early, you can go to a physical location. To discover that, Google “early voting locations in XYZ county.” Once that search is processed, Google will direct you to your county’s website, where they will provide detailed information on where to go. Since people usually wait until election day to vote, only a few early voting locations exist. The early voting pool is historically smaller, meaning fewer stations are necessary.
Now that you know the details, making history is up to you.
About the Author: Shelby Denise Smith is a Social Media Editor and Freelance Writer. She’s passionate about lifestyle, wellness, travel, and culture. Smith enjoys packaging the insight she receives into stories that can positively impact the livelihood of others.