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Voting 101
by Cindy Kuzma, 10.17.06
"Although young people still vote at lower rates than older people, those between the ages of 18 and 24 had the biggest jump in participation between 2000 and 2004." |
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Americans are not electing a new president this year, but that doesn't mean voters should skip the trip to the polls on November 7. That's the day of midterm elections, when citizens elect senators, representatives, and local officials to represent their communities. Since Congress makes decisions on such critical issues as privacy, foreign affairs, security, health care, and reproductive rights, voting is the first and best chance to choose qualified candidates and make sure everyone's voice is heard in the halls of power.
Registration Is Key
Voters must be 18 and older, and in every state except North Dakota, citizens must be registered to vote in order to cast a ballot on Election Day. A few states allow voters to register on the day of the election, but in many others, deadlines of 10 to 30 days prior to Election Day are fast approaching. Specific information on each state's deadline is available through the United States Election Assistance Commission.
In most states, voters can register at county or city government offices, through voter registration drives, at the department of motor vehicles, or at the public library or post office. All states except New Hampshire and Wyoming accept the National Mail Voter Registration Form, which can also be downloaded, printed, and mailed. Voter registration must be updated each time a voter moves or changes names. College students can generally register to vote either at home or school; local election officials can provide details.
Know Voting Rights
Voting in the United States has a sordid history of racial and gender discrimination. Now, however, the 15th and 19th amendments to the U.S. Constitution give women and minorities the right to vote, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 further solidifies the principle that, no matter their race or language, all Americans are equal in the voting booth. Laws also mandate that troops stationed overseas, elderly and disabled Americans, and citizens living abroad have the right to vote. Each state has different rules on the right of convicted felons to vote and for reinstating voting rights after a conviction.
Voters who think they have been discriminated against in any way while voting can contact the U.S. Department of Justice, which enforces voting rights laws, at 800-253-3931.
Who Votes - and Who Doesn't
In the 2004 presidential elections, 72 percent of voting-age Americans registered to vote and 64 percent (a total of 126 million) of voting-age Americans went to the polls. The turnout rate was up from 60 percent in 2000 and was the highest since 1992, when 68 percent of eligible adults voted.
However, voting rates tend to be much lower for midterm elections. In the 2002 midterms, 46 percent of eligible citizens (a total of 89 million) voted, slightly higher than the 45 percent who voted in 1998. Overall voting rates in midterm elections have been declining since 55 percent of the voting-age population cast a ballot in 1966.
Sixty-four percent is the average turnout for presidential and parliamentary elections held around the world since 1990, according to the International IDEA Voter Turnout website . The overall U.S. voting record in presidential and congressional elections since 1945 (48.3 percent turnout) puts us at number 139 in the world, far behind such nations as Tuvalu (26th at 81.9 percent), Suriname (41st at 77.7 percent) and the leader, Italy, at 92.5 percent.
Most recently in the United States, women, those who are native-born, older citizens, homeowners, non-Hispanic whites, married people, and those with higher levels of income and education were more likely to vote. Although young people still vote at lower rates than older people, those between the ages of 18 and 24 had the biggest jump in participation between 2000 and 2004 - 11 percentage points, from 36 percent to 47 percent. When the U.S. Census Bureau asked Americans who were registered in 2004 why they didn't vote, 20 percent said they were too busy; 15 were ill, disabled, or had a family emergency; 11 percent weren't interested or thought their vote wouldn't make a difference; 10 percent did not like the candidates or issues; and nine percent were out of town.
A quick look at the issues likely to face Congress in the next two to four years makes a hectic day seem like an insufficient excuse for not voting. Plus, taking a few simple steps beforehand can help things go smoothly on voting day. Voters can
- Find polling places in advance by contacting the local elections office. Project Vote Smart has a list of these offices and their contact information.
- Call ahead or visit the New Voters Project to check polling place hours. To avoid waiting in line, try heading over between 10 and 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., when polls tend to be less crowded.
- Bring a photo identification (especially for first-time voters). Some states require this.
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