“Without voting, your voice cannot be heard,” said Dustin Czarny, the Democratic elections commissioner of Onondaga County.
Oct. 11, 2013, is the last day for Onondaga County residents to register to vote in the general election on Nov. 5, 2013.
Residents must meet some requirements to register in Onondaga County, Czarny said. To register, residents must be:
- 18 years or older
- Living at present address for at least 30 days
- Not registered in another county
- Not been convicted of a felony
Eileen Long, an Onondaga County election inspector coordinator, advises would-be voters that they have several ways to register. “Before residents can come out and vote, they must already be registered. This can be done through many outlets,” said Long.
Eligible residents can register with a form found on the county election board website and mailed to the election board office. Registration can also be done in person at the county election board office, at 1000 Erie Blvd. West in downtown Syracuse.
Voters may be turned away on election day if voter registration information is wrong or outdated.
“If a person’s registration has not been updated with their correct information, like a change of address, they may be turned away on election day,” Long said. “It’s important voters are sure their information is correct.”
Elections commissioner Czarny also encourages voters to become informed about each candidate.
“Voting is the building block of our democracy. It is the cornerstone of our civic government. In order for citizens to make good choices in the election process, they must be informed about each candidate,” Czarny said. “There is a plethora of ways, such as candidate websites, articles about individual races and public appearances by each candidate.”
If a voter cannot travel to his or her designated polling place for the general election, the voter can get an absentee ballot. “Absentee ballots are given to anyone who is physically unable to go to their polling place on election day or voters who, for whatever reason, can not vote at their location but still want to participate,” Czarny said.
To be eligible for an absentee ballot, voters must prove:
- Name and date of birth
- The home address where the voter is registered
- The voter’s current address
- The reason for the request — such as being out of town for vacation, having a permanent or temporary medical disability, being caregiver, being detained in jail for an offense other than a felony waiting for a trial.
Voters can apply for an absentee ballot on the Onondaga County Election Board website or in person.
“No matter how or for who,” said Czarny, “voting is the most important thing any of us can do to better our surroundings.”
(Becca Milliron is a senior majoring in newspaper and online journalism.)
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