It is around that time again when candidates begin to launch their campaigns to gather enough votes for the big election. The Presidential Election is held every four years, and U.S. citizens can vote for their favorite candidate to be elected into office.
The 2024 Presidential candidates are former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris will represent the Democratic ticket, and Trump will represent the Republican ticket.
The United States of America is the land of the free and founded on principles of democracy.
Individuals vote for state house, senate, city council, president, and more. The elections are on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
According to the Pew Research Center, “The Center examined the most recent nationwide election results for 50 countries, mostly with highly developed economies and solid democratic traditions. When comparing turnout among the voting-age population in the 2020 presidential election against recent national elections in 49 other countries, the U.S. ranks 31st – between Colombia (62.5%) and Greece (63.5%)..”
Many Americans don’t exercise their right to vote when election year comes around. The Campus spoke with Political Science Professor Dr. Richard Johnson, who has insight into why Americans often fail to make it to the polls.
“We have made it so much easier to vote. In some of my classes, we talk about how we can make things easier, but I think the biggest thing we can do is educate people about the opportunities that are out there.”
Furthermore, constant negative portrayal discourages people from participating in what they see as a flawed system. The result is that they will withdraw from civic engagement. The misinformation media spreads can harm voters’ perception of politics and cause them to withdraw from participating. Voters need to research to avoid misinformation.
It can be difficult to know where to start. Johnson advises, “The League of Women Voters will typically do a pretty good overview of all the races. I would guess that if you go to the website, you would get the most coverage and most unbiased.” This way, voters can get unbiased information when researching the candidates.
Navigating the Voter Registration Process
Before casting a vote, here is some information that could help a voter better prepare for Tuesday, Nov. 5, election day. In Oklahoma, voters can complete a registration form or register online. Follow these steps below to learn how to mail in a ballot and more.
If mailing in a form, look up “United States Election Commission Assistance.” Click the “Voting” tab. A drop-down box of options should appear. Click “National Mail Voter Registration Form.” This will then redirect the user to forms in multiple languages, which are free to download.
If choosing to register online, simply search “OKVoterPortal,” and it will redirect the user to the site. There are questions about citizenship, age, and consent to use information from a driver’s license for registration. After that, fill out the rest of the questions, which will give instructions on getting a Voter ID.
For those who do not permanently live in Oklahoma or registered somewhere else, don’t worry. There’s a way to vote, too. An Absentee Ballot is for voters who need help to go to their official polling station.
To access the form for those who plan to mail in, search “Oklahoma State Election Board.” Once on the homepage, click the “Voters” tab, which will give a drop-down box with different options. Next, click on “Absentee Voting.” The deadline to request a ballot is 5:00 pm on Oct. 21 or 15 days before the election.
Next, scroll down, and it will have two hyperlink options, the first “Apply for absentee ballots online” and the second “Download an absentee ballot request form.” Once either option is selected, it will provide instructions on how to submit and identify any other necessary steps.
SGA President’s View on Voter Drives
The President of the Student Government Association, Korbin Cardoza, gave insight into why voter drives are essential. Voter drives generate accessibility for civic engagement for busy students. “They offer valuable education for first-time voters about the voting process and the importance of their vote,” Cardoza said. Moreover, these drives promote community engagement and civic responsibility, helping to ensure diverse voices are heard in the democratic process,” Cardoza added.
The Student Government Association and the Division of Student Affairs are partnering to run a voter drive every Tuesday between Sept. 10 and Oct. 8 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.
Cardoza gives some information about what to expect when approaching their table, “The overall visit to the table takes approximately 3-5 minutes. A student should be aware of the requirement of an identification number and should provide either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a social security number. So come prepared with all information regarding residence, name, identification, and political party.”
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