Election Guide 2012 Part 1: Getting Registered
Election Guide ’12 Part 1: Getting Registered
By: Garrett Coffman
The time of reckoning is nearly upon us. Tuesday, Nov. 6 is the day for Americans to perform their duties as citizens in the selection of our country’s President of the United States. As such, there are important things to be done and I am here to make sure you, my fellow Spartan, are fully prepared to make your way to the polls.
If you have not already registered NOW IS THE TIME. Voters must be registered to vote at least 30 days prior to election day and the last day to register in the upcoming election is Oct. 9.
The rest of the requirements are fairly straightforward: you must be a U.S. citizen of at least 18 years of age as of Nov. 6, a Michigan resident, and a resident of the city or township where you are registering, according to the state of Michigan Secretary of State office.
Not sure if you’re already registered or not? Worry not my friend, you can simply head to michigan.gov/vote to check your registration status.
If you fit all of the above criteria then you can proceed to pick up and fill out your voter application at the Secretary of State, the city clerk’s office, any of the locations listed here, or online.
Keep in mind that the address you use to register must be the same as the address on your driver’s license. If you plan to vote on campus, according to the state of Michigan Secretary of State office, you need enter your current address on the application, and then the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver’s license or other identification to reflect that change.
Once you have filled out your application it’s time to submit it to the good people at the city clerk’s office. This can be done in one of two ways:
1) You can deliver your app by hand to the City of East Lansing clerk’s office at 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823 (just down from Dublin Square) and those friendly folks will take care of the rest as long as you have some ID on you
2) You can mail your application in to the clerks office at the same location. According to the state of Michigan Secretary of State office, If you choose this route, you must either enter your driver’s license (or other personal identification) number in the appropriate spot on the form or send a photocopy (not an original) of your license or a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank or government document that lists both your name and address. Also: if you mail it in, you must appear in person to vote in your first election, which in this case will probably mean this upcoming one.
Once you have taken care of all that sit tight because once your application has been processed you will have a voter registration card so you can go out there and vote! Yet be wary young voter–keep it secret, keep it safe–that little card you have there has the location of where you will need to go to cast your vote. If you are unsure where your polling place is or need directions, simply click on over to Michigan.gov/vote.
That’s all she wrote! That wasn’t as painful and daunting as you thought it would be, was it? Now you are ready to get out to go to the polls and show the electoral college who’s boss. Be proud.
Keep checking back here as the election draws nearer and we will be sure to keep you filled in on everything else you need to know this election season.