The country is in the dawn of one of the most historical elections to date. The Democratic nomination is being represented by Hillary Rodham Clinton, which is the first time a women will partake in either major party during the a presidential election, while the Republican nomination has been given to Donald J. Trump, a candidate with no political ties prior to the 2016 election.
With less than 33 days left until election day, the candidates are both focusing on getting voters registered and encouraging them to get out and vote on November 8.
“One of the most fundamental and sacred rights of any democracy is the right to vote,” President Barack Obama said. “In order for our government to function effectively and respond to the needs of our people, all citizens can and must play a role in shaping it.”
Citizen’s of the United States are given the constitutional right to vote upon turning eighteen as their way to partake in the outcomes of their government and elect the officials they want to represent them.
The current presidential election between Clinton and Trump deems to be unique in the sense that their supporters land on the polar opposite sides of the political spectrum. There is no toleration – supporters either love them, hate them, or are voting for the third party candidates, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, in hopes of saving the nation in their opinion.
For the past year, televisions, newspapers, magazines, and social media platforms have been filled with a constant stream of advertisements trying to convince viewers to vote for or against the targeted candidate. The constant annoyance of trying to get the attention of voters tends to draw many citizens away from making it to the polls on election day.
“Our brand of democracy is hard, and it requires our citizens to be able to fully participate in a smooth and effective way,” says President Obama. “Through a bipartisan, independent commission dedicated to improving the voting process, we are working to ensure our democracy and our elections function the way they are supposed to.”
College students have some some exceptions to the voting rule. For most students attending the University of New Haven, they will be unable to go home to their respected voting district to cast their ballot, so they are left with two choices.
The first is to file for an absentee ballot for their registered state that can be obtained online. Students must send their request to their county’s voting offices by mail two weeks prior to the election, which is Monday, October 17. An absentee will be returned and due back to the voting offices based off the state’s deadlines.
College students also have the option of registering to vote in Connecticut, despite not having a permanent residency or being registered in another state as long as only one vote is casted. Registering to vote is as easy as going to defendourfuture.turbovote.org and filling out an application. The deadline to vote is two weeks prior to the date of the election, which again, is Monday, October 17.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” President Obama says. “If we are serious about improving our country and ensuring our government reflects our values, we cannot afford to sit out on Election Day.”
Critics have said that voting is fulfilling your civil duty, so make sure to register and vote on November 8 to execute your right and voice in the next chapter of the nation’s history.
