Did you know that midterm elections matter just as much as presidential elections? If your answer is no, you are not alone. Midterm elections historically have less media coverage and thus lower voter turnout than presidential elections, but their importance should not be understated. Midterm elections give individual states the opportunity to decide their elected representatives of Congress. Congress is the Legislative Branch meaning they write laws, decide the federal budget, and have the ability to hold the federal government accountable through means such as impeachment. Even if someone has the knowledge of the significance of these elections, not everyone knows how to get ready to vote. There are several ways to ensure that you and your friends are informed and ready for the upcoming elections in November.
According to US.Vote, out-of-state college students can vote in local elections if they otherwise meet voter eligibility requirements. This means that, even if you are not a resident of Louisiana outside of your schooling, you still have the right and ability to vote here. In order to verify your eligibility, you can visit the US Vote Foundation website.
Luckily, LSUS will have a table in the UC lobby on September 17th from 10am-12pm where you can get assistance with your registration. If you can’t make that day, there are other avenues to register as well. There is an easy option to register online through the Louisiana Voter Portal. If you’d prefer to register by mail or in-person, you have to complete the physical voter registration form. You can register in person at your state motor vehicles office, your state or local election office, and at many government public assistance offices. The deadline for registering is 20 days before the elections take place.
Follow along with this series in the upcoming weeks to find out information on candidate options and candidate voting.
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