Why Vote?
A college education is more than just about learning new facts; it’s about accepting responsibility. The habits you form during your time at ETSU will not only affect your future career success, but also have an impact on the country where you live.
Betty White, vice chair of the Washington County Republican Party, encourages students to make a habit of voting.
“It’s the younger generation that is the future of tomorrow,” she said. “Students should realize that not only will they be filling job openings but that they will have to make decisions that affect America’s future.”
“Students should take the time to get to know the candidates and what they stand for. Participating in elections gets students involved in the issues. Taking the time to vote makes you a better citizen,” White said.
Washington County Democratic Chair Linda Modica echoes those sentiments. “Students’ lives are directly affected by the decisions that local and state governments make, so they need to vote to ensure that the highest quality candidates get elected to make the best decisions,” she said.
“Much that impacts a student’s life – from what kinds of restaurants and stores they get to choose from, to the price and availability of gas and apartments, to the types of jobs to vie for, to tuition and fees, to war and peace – is affected by local, state or federal government,” Modica said.
White advises students to get a feel for what they are passionate about. “There are so many issues the younger generation will have to deal with. Things like Social Security, education and immigration need to be addressed,” she said. White also cites the need to protect the religious rights of Americans.
Modica expresses hopes that students will volunteer in upcoming campaigns. “Getting involved might be a way for students to not only learn about the issues, but also how to make a difference,” she said. Upcoming elections will get students “engaged in national issues such as the Iraq War, prisoner abuse, domestic spying, Gulf Coast restoration and global warming.”
How to Register
Anyone 18 years of age or older is eligible to vote. If you haven’t registered yet, doing so is easy.
Before you can register you have to figure out the city, county and state where you legally reside. If you’re from another state and paying out-of-state tuition, or are still claimed by your parents as a dependent, then your parent’s address is likely your legal residence.
If you legally reside in Tennessee, you can pick up a voter application form in the Community Engagement, Learning and Leadership Center on the first floor of the Culp Center.
If you’re not a Tennessee resident, registering is just a click away. Most states (including Tennessee) have registration forms online. Visit your state’s government web site and look for a “voting” or “residents” tab. Simply print out a voter registration form, fill it out and mail it in.
Finding your state’s government web site is easy, too. They all have the same “dot gov” web address format. For example, if you live in Virginia, your state’s website is www.virginia.gov.
Be sure to fill out the application completely.”The biggest problem we have with voter application forms is the failure to fill out an application correctly or completely,” said Connie Sinks, Washington County’s election commissioner.
When to Register and When to Vote
Different states have different deadlines for registration. The deadline in Tennessee is 30 days prior to an election. Virginia’s deadline is 29 days prior, while North Carolina’s is 25 days.
You should receive your voter registration card a week or two after sending in your application. Your voting location will be printed on your card. If you’re not sure where to vote, call your local election commission for directions.
Election dates are usually announced on air and in print by the local news media.
Many election commission offices, including the Washington County Election Commission, have their own web sites with election dates and deadlines posted.
The state of Tennessee will hold primary elections on August 3, and general elections on Nov. 7. Candidates will vie for the state’s governorship, U.S. House and Senate seats, as well as state House and Senate seats.
Tennessee residents can elect to vote early if they want to avoid Election Day crowds. Early votes can only be cast at the election commission office during business hours beginning 20 days and ending five days prior to a general election.
You need to bring your voter registration card or a picture ID containing your signature to vote whether you vote early or on the day of an election.
How to Vote Absentee
A busy schedule isn’t a good enough reason to skip out on voting. As college students you are permitted to vote while you are away from home by using an absentee or mail-in ballot. An absentee ballot is mailed to you from your county of legal residence. You simply choose who you
want to vote for and mail it back.
To receive an absentee ballot in Tennessee, you must send a letter to the election commission office of the county where you legally reside. The contact information for each county election commission is usually located in the voting section of your state government’s web site.
In Tennessee, your letter must include your current and home address, the reason for wanting to vote absentee, your Social Security number and your signature.
The procedure for other states varies. North Carolina requires a letter containing all of the information listed above as well as the voter’s date of birth. Virginia residents can obtain an absentee ballot request form online.
In Tennessee, you can request an absentee ballot beginning 90 days prior to a general election. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is one week prior to the election. In order to be counted the ballots must be received by the election commission office prior to the closing of the polls on Election Day.

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