United States citizens can make meaningful impacts on the country’s future by casting their vote. One year from today, the people of the United States will vote for the next president and many students here at Independence will be eligible to vote in their first election; here are some ways eligible Knights can prepare themselves to vote:
Register to vote
The first step to cast your vote in any election is registering. To register to vote in Frisco, complete a voter registration application and return it to the Collin County election office at least 30 days before the upcoming election date.
You can visit votetexas.gov for more details on how to register for your first time.
Stay informed about candidates and issues
One of the most important steps on informing yourself as a voter is exploring the different stances of candidates on various topics. You can start this step now by following trustworthy news outlets.
One trustworthy source to stay informed about candidates and issues is the Associated Press (AP News). The BallotReady database provides non-partisan tools for researching the names and measures on every voting ballot. I would put the media bias chart here and explain it.
Know your voting rights
Knowing your voting rights as a voter is vital. Before the election, familiarize yourself with your local election laws including identification requirements, early voting options, and absentee voting procedures.
According to the Texas government, on voting day you have the right to: a ballot with written instructions on how to cast a vote, cast your vote with privacy, ask the polling place official for instructions on how to cast your vote properly, and many others that you can find on the votetexas.gov website.
Encourage others to vote
Finally, you can amplify the impact voting has by engaging in healthy and safe discussions with others. By doing so, you spread the impacts voting has and improve political discourse.
According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, here are five steps to engaging in fruitful political discussions:
- Actively listen instead of waiting for your chance to talk.
- Attempt to understand why someone is making the argument they are.
- Don’t take arguments personally.
- Don’t make arguments personal.
- Try your best to understand someone’s reasoning and develop common ground.
By engaging in conversations, sharing resources, and supporting initiatives that promote voter education and participation, you can inspire others to cast their ballot too.
With nearly a quarter of Knights who will be eligible to vote in next year’s election, preparing to vote can initiate proactive engagement with the election process. By staying informed, understanding your rights, and meaningfully participating in political discourse, you can ensure your role as a responsible voter.
