On the Topic of Voting: Every Vote Counts, Yes Even Those Votes…
Before you get bent all out of shape thinking that I am about to go on some partisan political tirade telling you why a candidate sucks and why you should vote Candidate X. Stop! Get a hold of yourself. Take a deep breath and relax. This is not one of those kinds of posts. This will be a brief little blurb about the importance of being registered to vote and why your vote matters (even if you don’t think that it does). The reason this post is so important is simple: the cutoff for voter registration in quite a few states ends tomorrow, October 11th 2016. If you want to vote and have your voice heard, then you need to make sure that you are registered and you need to check on your voter status now. The future of the United States, and not only the Presidency but also key seats in the House, Senate, as well as key State and local races. There are a ton of reasons for why you should vote this November, and only one for not voting: you don’t care about the future of your country. INB4 you site a health problem or some other such special circumstance for not voting, remember there is early voting and absentee voting as well – check your state’s rules (links included on the chart below) on voting to see what options you have for voting with a disability or special circumstance. There are plenty of options that allow you to vote, regardless of your condition or health. If you are able to read this blog post, then you effectively have no excuse for not voting.
Trust me on this: YOUR VOTE COUNTS. No matter how you choose to vote, it matters. Look, I get it. This is a grueling election year with a lot of negativity and some really dodgy candidate choices. A lot is at stake in 2016 and frankly neither major party candidate is worth a bucket of warm spit (I thank you John Nance Garner). Even still, you absolutely must vote if you want your voice to be heard, even if it is for a third party candidate, get out there and vote. Yes, even for those candidates. Don’t let anybody tell you that voting for a candidate outside of the Republican/Democrat candidate is throwing away a vote. The United States of America was founded on the notion that we could vote in a general election for whoever we want to. If you prefer Gary Johnson or Jill Stein as opposed to Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, then vote for them. If ultimately you are undecided, then write this name on the ballot: Packy Smith – Head Llama, and I will gladly accept the burden of the Presidency on a platform of video games, super heroes, and tasty home cooked meals. But seriously folks, no vote given is ever thrown away, only the votes that never get cast. Go read about the candidates, all of them, and make a concerted, educated decision on who you think is the best choice to lead the U.S. of A. for the next 4 years. The important thing is this: GET REGISTERED AND GO VOTE!
I lifted the chart below directly from the official USA.gov site dedicated to voter registration. Click HERE to get more resources on how to register to vote. Also, each state name is a link directly to the state site dedicated to getting registered to vote.
Voter Registration Deadlines for the General Election by State
Find your state’s voter registration deadlines for the Federal General Election—to be held on November 8 this year—below. This page provides a summary of information taken from state election office websites. This information can change. For the most complete and up-to-date information, contact your state election office. Select your state name below to be taken directly to its election office website.
| State | Registration Deadline | Election Day Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Registration is closed for the 14 days before an election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Alaska | Registration 30 days before the election. | In a Presidential Election year, for November General Election only, you can register to vote on Election day. |
| Arizona | Registration closes 29 days prior to election day. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Arkansas | Postmarked 29 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| California | Postmarked or submitted electronically no later than 15 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Colorado | Mail and online registration 8 days before the election. Deadline for registration by voter registration drive: 22 days before the election. In person registration through Election Day. | You may also register in person on Election Day. |
| Connecticut | Postmarked by the 7th day before an election. | You may also register in person on Election Day, but only at designated locations. |
| Delaware | Deadline to register is 24 days before the election, except for military and overseas voters. | You must register before the deadline. |
| District of Columbia | Postmarked 30 days before the election. | You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof ofresidency. |
| Florida | Postmarked 29 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Georgia | Received 28 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Hawaii | Postmarked 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Idaho | Postmarked 25 days before the election. | You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency. |
| Illinois | Regular registration is closed 27 days before the election. In-person registration continues through election day. | You may also register in person at designated locations on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency. |
| Indiana | Postmarked 27 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Iowa | Deadline to pre-register is 10 days before the election. | You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency and identification. |
| Kansas | Received 21 days before any election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Kentucky | Postmarked 29 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Louisiana | Postmarked (if mailed) or received (online or in person) 30 days prior to the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Maine | Received 21 days before the election. | You may also register in person on or before Election Day. |
| Maryland | Registration closes 21 days before the election. If you miss the deadline, you may register to vote or change your address at an early voting center in the county where you live. You will be required to prove where you live. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Massachusetts | Postmarked (if mailed) or received (online or in person) 20 days prior to any election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Michigan | Postmarked (if mailed) or received (online or in person) 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Minnesota | Pre-registration deadline is 21 days before the election. | You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof ofresidency. |
| Mississippi | Postmarked 30 days prior to the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Missouri | Postmarked by the 4th Wednesday before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Montana | Register to vote by 5 p.m. 30 days before the election. You may also register in person at the county election office on or before Election Day. | You may register in person at the county election office on Election Day. |
| Nebraska | Postmarked on or before the 3rd Friday before the election. You may register in person at the County Clerk/Election Commissioner’s office prior to 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Nevada | Postmarked (if mailed) 31 days before the election. Submitted online or in person at the office of the County Clerk/Registrar from the 5th Sunday through the 3rd Tuesday before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| New Hampshire | Deadline to register is 10 days before the election. | You may also register in person on Election Day. |
| New Jersey | Received 21 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| New Mexico | Postmarked (if mailed) or received (online) 28 days before the election. Postmarked applications must be received by the Friday after registration closes. | You must register before the deadline. |
| New York | Postmarked 25 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| North Carolina | Postmarked 25 days before the election. You can register in person and vote early during the “one-stop” voting period, the second Thursday to 1 PM on the last Saturday before the election. This option remains the subject of ongoing litigation in federal court and may change. | You must register before the deadline. |
| North Dakota | N/A | North Dakota is the only state without voter registration. |
| Ohio | Postmarked 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Oklahoma | Postmarked 25 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Oregon | The deadline to register is 21 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Pennsylvania | Received 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Rhode Island | Postmarked 30 days before the election. | You may register and vote for President/Vice-President only at your local Board of Canvassers on Election Day. |
| South Carolina | Postmarked 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| South Dakota | Received 15 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Tennessee | Postmarked 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Texas | Received 30 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Utah | Postmarked 30 days before the election. Online or in-person registration up to 7 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Vermont | Received by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the date of the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Virginia | Postmarked (if mailed) or received (in person or online) 22 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Washington | Postmarked (if mailed) or submitted (online) 29 days before the election. In person 8 days before the election for new Washington state voters. | You must register before the deadline. |
| West Virginia | Received 21 days before the election. | You must register before the deadline. |
| Wisconsin | By mail or to a Special Registration Deputy 20 days before the election. In-person registration at municipal clerk office up until theFriday before the election at 5 PM or close of business, whichever is later. | You may also register in person on Election Day. |
| Wyoming | Received 14 days before the election. | You may also register in person on Election Day. |
