Voting in AMERICA

                             **REMEMBER**                         

“The most important political office is that of the private citizen”.

Louis Brandeis

 

Show your strength....Exercise your right to vote!!!

In order to register to vote in the State of Florida, you must be:

·         A U.S. citizen,

·         A Florida resident, and

·         At least 18 years old (you may also pre-register if you are 16 or 17 years old but you cannot vote until you are 18).

·         If you have ever been convicted of a felony or if a court has ever found you to be mentally incapacitated as to your right to vote, your right to vote must be restored before you can register.

Registering in the State of Florida is easy.  Follow these steps:

1.  Fill in and print the Voter Registration Application online at http://election.dos.state.fl.us/pdf/webappform.pdf. Or, you can print the application and write your information in with a black ballpoint pen.

2.  Verify that all of the information on your application is complete. PRIVACY IS YOUR RIGHT: The office where you register, your decision not to register, your Social Security Number, your Florida driver’s license number and your Florida identification card number will remain CONFIDENTIAL and will be used only for voter registration purposes.

3.  Sign your application. The application requires an original signature because you are swearing or affirming to an oath.

4.  Place the application in an envelope with a first class stamp.

5.  Mail the application to your county Supervisor of Elections.  The address of each county is listed right on the application.  You may also opt to mail or hand deliver the application to any Supervisor of Elections’ office in the state, a driver’s license office, a voter registration agency including an armed forces recruitment office, public library, or the Division of Elections.

6.  If your application is complete and you qualify as a voter, the Supervisor of Elections will mail you a voter information card as official notification that you are registered to vote. Make sure all of the information on your card is correct. If you do not receive your card within 2 weeks, or if you have any questions, call your Supervisor of Elections.

7.  You must be registered for at least 29 days before you can vote in an election.

Voting in your community

Procedures to vote in your community

1.  Go to your voting/polling location on voting day.  Florida law does require a photo ID but any of the following documents will be acceptable:

-Florida driver’s license

-Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

-United States passport

-Debit or credit card

-Military identification

-Student identification

-Retirement center identification

-Neighborhood association identification

-Public assistance identification.

2. In Florida, there is also early voting and voting by absentee ballot.  For more information, go to http://www.myfloridaelections.org/

Upcoming election dates:

July 16, 2012……………………Primary Election

October 9, 2012………………..General Election

Reflecting

Reflection Questions 

1. What obstacles to voting exist in your community?

The main obstacles that exist in my community include; a large elderly population coupled with relatively poor public transportation.  Elections occurring on workdays are also an obstacle, although that is a National issue.  Lastly, voter apathy is a significant issue.    

2. Would you recommend any changes in the voter registration procedures you researched? If so, what would you recommend?

No.  I believe that the State of Florida is doing the right thing by requiring photo identifications in order to register.  In fact, verification of Citizenship should be required but in order to enforce this requirement, being able to obtain proof of citizenship needs to be free and easily accessible.

3. Based on your research, what do you think should be done to increase voter registration in the United States?

I would like to see more involvement is both public and private sectors to increase the awareness of the importance of voting.  Schools should more actively encourage registration.  Businesses should include voter registration forms with employment applications.  Voter registration forms can also be handed out with new driver’s licenses.  However, although the importance of voting indeed needs to be stressed, it should remain voluntary.