Note: The primary date has been changed to Sept. 18, 2007
A vote is a powerful tool. It can help elect a new leader, change a law or expand civil rights. It’s how we express to our government what we want and what we can’t tolerate. But how does it all work?
As Sean Bowditch reports, the process of registering and voting is fairly simple. You just have to know what paperwork to fill out, who’s running, and where to vote.
As Americans, we pay a lot of attention to the question of why we vote.
“I think it’s important to vote because I’m a vocal person and I feel like you don’t have the right to use your voice if you aren’t active about it. And I want to have the right to complain. And I feel like to have that right, I have to vote.” [Kirsten Bontrager, student, Syracuse University]
“I think for me it really does give a chance to influence.” [Jonathan Panikoff, student, Syracuse University]
“I know in my heart, if you want to make a change, you have to do it. You can’t just sit back and let people make the changes for you. You have to be proactive.” [Margaret Vercillo, student, Syracuse University]
“Voting also is maybe a little bit of a rite of passage. It’s part of that big 18 years of age. It’s a coming of age of sorts.” [Jeremy Gordon, student, Syracuse University]
We use words like “change,” “right,” and “influence” to describe our inspiration for voting. But what often get overlooked are the nuts and bolts of the process itself.
Here in Onondaga County, there are four basic requirements to vote:
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- You have to be at least 18 years old on Election Day.
- You can’t be in jail or on parole.
- And you can’t claim the right to vote anywhere else.
To make it official, you need to register with the county. This involves filling out a voter registration form. They are printed in both English and Spanish. You can pick one up at local high schools, the county Board of Elections, or the Department of Motor Vehicles, to name a few. You can also download them from the county’s Web site. (For English: http://www.ongov.net/Board_of_Elections/images/voteform_english.pdf or for Spanish: http://www.ongov.net/Board_of_Elections/images/voteform_spanish.pdf)
The forms are straightforward and take only a few minutes to complete. This is also your chance to say which of the five recognized political parties you want to support—Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Working Families, or Independence.
“My Dad has always referred to my sister and me as ‘frickin’ liberals,’ even though I did actually ultimately decide to register as a Republican. As I’ve grown and increased in my education and increased in my exposure, I think I have become less and less Republican on social issues, although I still am moderately Republican on financial issues.” [Bontrager]
Don’t worry too much about this choice. Do some research. Give it some thought. And choose what feels right. If you’re still not satisfied, keep your options open by checking the “I-do-not-wish-to-enroll-in-a-party” box. And know you can always change your mind in the months leading up to the election.
“I generally—and I don’t know why—try to just throw in a Green Party or something not so much the two major parties just because I think it needs to happen.” [Amy Holt, student, Syracuse University]
A quick note on primaries: If you want to vote, say, in the Republican primary election, you must be a registered Republican. But in the general election, you can vote for anyone.
After you’ve filled out the registration form, either mail it in or deliver it by hand. Remember, these must be received at least 25 days prior to the election. And forms that are faxed or e-mailed won’t be accepted.
The next step is finding out what you’re voting for. Is an at-large or district seat up for grabs on the Syracuse Common Council? Is someone running for one of the county’s 19 legislative seats? What about state and federal races?
Where you live in the city and county determines which races you can vote in. Do your homework. The political maps on the Board of Elections Web site are helpful. You can also call the board. They’ll fill you in and put you on the right track.
Once you figure which races you can vote in, read up on the candidates and the issues.
“Start paying attention to certain issues. If there’s something that really catches your eye about a particular candidate? I mean, we’re in an era where you can’t just vote for somebody because you like their appearance. You’ve got to really think about issues and think about how it’s going to impact your life.” [Vercillo]
There are several resources you can turn to. Most candidates these days have Web sites. That’s where you can find their positions on the issues, upcoming campaign events and personal information.
If the Internet is not your style, many candidates send out direct mailings. Keep your eyes open for glitzy envelopes with red, white, and blue splashed across them. That’s likely from a political hopeful. Also, the local press will often highlight specific races by profiling the candidates and the central issues.
All of this leads to the final step: Casting your vote.
After you’ve submitted your voter registration form, the elections office will send you a registration card. It’s like a receipt. It will tell you which party you joined, the primary and election dates, and where and what time you should vote.
For those who will be outside the county for the election, don’t fret. You won’t be left out of the election. If you’re in the military, living overseas, or physically unable to make it to the polls, you can fill out an absentee ballot. Simply apply for one by phone, mail, or at the elections office Web site.
Remember that when it comes time to vote, absentee ballots must be postmarked the day before the election, at the latest.
“When you’ve sitting there with a ballot, the choices become a little more interesting because you sit there—even though I knew exactly who I was going to vote for the entire time—I sat there staring at it. You really do start to think and reflect on your choices and what impact these individuals are going to make and whether you actually are happy with the people that are listed on this ballot.” [Panikoff]
When Election Day rolls around, the only thing you need to bring with you is a valid identification, like a driver’s license, passport, or student ID. Your polling place will be staffed by a crew of volunteers ready to check you in and answer any questions.
“That was probably the most exciting thing for me? to get in there and pull that lever and make it official. But when I went to vote for the first time, there was no giant lever. Everything had been computerized. But it was still a special experience. It was a feeling that I had done something significant. I had contributed to something I felt was a little bit greater than the 15 minutes I spent in that booth.” [Gordon]
“It was pretty much what I would expect. Of course I had the silly feelings of, what if the doors don’t open, what if I get stuck, what buttons do I press because there’s too many, why does the candidate have his name under three different sections. Things like that.” [Vercillo]
This is a good time to have someone show you how to work the county’s 40-year-old lever voting machines. They can be intimidating, with their rows of bells and buttons and names.
[SOUND OF VOTING MACHINE]
This year’s primary election is scheduled for September 11 (changed to Sept. 18). The general election is November 6.
I’m Sean Bowditch reporting.
(Sean Bowditch is a master’s student in international relations at the Maxwell School)
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