By MAGGIE KOESTER

Election day is just around the corner, and for a new generation of voters, there are a lot of unclear and confusing instructions on how to actually vote. If this is your first time voting, or if you just need a refresher, this article will provide a simple and condensed guide to voting. 

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a moment to understand why voting is important. With a new generation of voters, you have the power to make the change you want to see in the world. Many life-changing events have happened over the past four years, and they’ve impacted all of us. It’s crucial for your voice to be heard, along with everyone else’s. That’s what democracy is. 

You don’t want to walk into the polling place with no idea of who you’re voting for. Take a good couple of minutes before voting to really do your research on every candidate (this even applies to non-presidential elections). Who’s values and goals do you agree with most? Who do you think will make an impactful change? Which party are they in? These are some important questions to ask yourself before getting your vote in.

Make sure you are registered! No matter what form of voting you will be doing, you must be registered. Registering is a very easy process, and there are lots of great and reliable websites and organizations that can help. Vote.org is a non-profit organization that makes the whole voting process easy for one to do. You can also register through your state’s board of elections website (just a quick Google search) and request for a mail-in ballot if you are out of state. 

When you register, you want to make sure to list accurate information including your name, date of birth, address (if you are voting in your home state, make sure to put your address in that  state!), email, and phone number. Register before the deadline! In Wisconsin, mail and online registration must be done 20 days before election day (October 16). For voting in person, they suggest you be registered the Friday before election day (November 1). However, at the polling place closest to the Beloit College campus, the First Congregational Church, you can register the day of when you arrive if needed as long as you have all of the required documents and information. After you have registered, you’ll get your voter registration card. This will contain the information you filled in, as well as an assigned polling place, unless you are mailing in your ballot.  

From this point on, things may seem a little bit more complicated. No matter what kind of voting, you will be required to bring a form of government ID with you. It can be a drivers license, permit,  state ID, or at the First Congregational Church polling location, a Beloit student ID. It just needs to be valid, and state your legal name.. Some states may let you show your proof of residence another way, like a utility bill or passport, but make sure to double check with your state. It is also helpful to know your Social Security Number, especially the last four digits. 

For absentee/mail-in voting, you will be sent a blank ballot which has to be mailed before election day,  dropped off at a polling location on election day, or in another ballot turn in spot. Be sure to fill out your ballot as completely as you can before sending it back to the address they have provided you. 

In person voting is a little different. As mentioned before, your voter registration card will provide you with a polling location, or you can use your state’s election board website to find a polling location. Check in with the volunteers, and ask questions if you have any–-that’s what they’re there for. Along those lines, don’t be rude to them, they are sacrificing their own personal time and dealing with hundreds of people. With technology evolving, you may fill out your ballot on a machine, or they may still hand out the paper ones. 

Some states may allow early voting as well! In Wisconsin, the polling places open up about two weeks before the election. Specific dates and times do vary on the polling place, so make sure to look it up. 

Once you’ve completed the ballot and turned it in, don’t forget to grab an “I voted” sticker! Slap it on and show it off to all your friends. 

Whether you send in your ballot through mail, or go to the polls to drop it in, your vote will be counted. For physical votes, the envelope is separated from the ballot to protect a voter’s right to a secret ballot. Some places will count the ballots by hand (thank you volunteers), while others will use a scanner. This process is known as “canvassing”, and is done to ensure everything is going accurately and smoothly. Votes tend to be counted on election day and a few days after that. Once all the votes are properly tallied, the results will be announced. This could be on election night, however with the amount of votes being counted, official scores might not be announced until later. 

Now that you’ve read step by step on how to vote, it’s time for you to go and make real change! Resources will be listed at the bottom of the article to help you with registration or any potential questions you might have on voting. 

A final and key piece of voting is understanding that you as a voter have rights. It is illegal for anyone to try and stop you from voting. This includes harassment, intimidation, blocking polling places, or physical actions. If you find yourself or another in a situation like this, call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683. 

If you would like more information on anything mentioned above or have any questions at all, check out vote.org, votelikeabeast.com and The Wisco Project