Article written by Matthew Uttaro (‘22).
One of the greatest rights afforded to Americans is the right to vote. It gives us the unique ability to hold those in government positions accountable to us, and it makes our voices as citizens powerful beyond our angry tweets and Instagram posts. We have the power to influence government action. Yet, even with this being the case, just over half of those eligible to vote actually do cast a ballot.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 61.4% of the eligible voting population exercised that right in the 2016 election. That means just under 200 million people voted in that election, compared to the total population of the United States that year, 323.1 million. How could the political landscape be different if even just one percent more voted on average?
One of the most common reasons people do not vote is that the process seems too hard. The process of getting registered, of making time in your day to go to your polling place, and making the constant effort of being knowledgeable of the issues seem to be too much alongside our everyday commitments. With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it only gets harder. So why should you make the effort?
Voting is the manifestation of democracy in our country. It allows us to go above and beyond with our beliefs on issues, to make real, substantive change by electing those that we feel will fight for this change. You may view yourself as apolitical, or someone who doesn’t bother with politics at all; however, the case remains that you do something every day thanks to politics. If you are a commuter, you drove here today on a road that was made possible by a political decision. Regardless of your status as a student here, you most likely receive financial aid. The entire concept of student loans was born from a political decision.
Perhaps you are passionate about a specific issue. Maybe you are seeking to make the world a better place for people of all walks of life. While the government may be a key player in the issue you are seeking to address, it may also be the most effective avenue for change. Granted, voting once and doing nothing else may not grant the change you wish to make in the world, but combining it with activism towards that cause and voting every chance you get is most certainly a step in the right direction.
Indeed, the process of voting will be much different this election cycle due to the pandemic. The good news is that you can still vote safely and easily! You can do all things voting-related (besides the actual act of voting) online in New York State, including registering to vote, applying for an absentee ballot, and finding out your polling location. If you live out of state, a number of states have implemented voting reforms designed to make voting easier for this upcoming election. You can go to Vote.Org to find out more about how you can vote in your state.
On September 1, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a new online absentee ballot application portal in which all registered voters can request their ballot in just a few minutes. This supplements the paper application system previously used in which voters had to print off a request form, fill it out, and mail it in to their local Board of Elections. In New York, an excuse is required when applying for an absentee ballot; if Houghton is not in the county you live in, you can check ‘absence from county on Election Day’ as your excuse. If you live within Allegany County and you would rather not vote in person due to worries about COVID-19, you can request an absentee ballot and check ‘temporary illness or physical disability.’ It is important to do this as soon as possible due to current delays with the United States Postal Service.
Another option is voting early. In New York, early voting begins on Saturday, October 24, and runs through Sunday, November 1. What this process allows you to do is to vote at your polling location in your home county before Election Day. What you need to do in order to vote early differs from county to county and of course in different states as well. New York residents can navigate to this website to learn more about early voting based on their county. If you live outside of New York, go to Vote.Org and select your state to find out your voting options.
The final option is to vote in person, as normal, on Election Day. This is most likely not feasible for many students who live outside of this county and/or live far away. Depending on where you live as well, there is a slightly higher risk voting in person on Election Day than it would be to vote by mail or to vote early, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. If you do vote in person, make sure you take the proper precautions and wear a mask as well as wash your hands often. Check with your local Board of Elections to find your polling location as well as when you can vote.
Are you voting in this year’s election? Why or why not? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (editor@houghtonstar.com)!