Registering to Vote

For my course, American Politics (POL 10100), you can earn three (3) points extra credit if you provide proof that you are registered to vote or provide a copy of the guidelines for registering to vote in your home county. If you want these extra credit points, you must obtain official documents from the Board of Elections in your home county (internet printouts will not be accepted). "Official documents" may vary from county to county, but most likely would be something like a voter registration card. Make a copy of this and bring it to me in class. Be sure and make a good, clear copy with your name legible, something that I can keep for my records.

Here are some pointers about registering to vote:

If you have never voted before, you will need to register to vote. If you have voted before, but not in the last four years, you need to re-register.

In Ohio, you can register anytime, but if you want to vote, you must register by early October of an election year at the latest (contact registration sites below for exact date).

You have two choices of where to register:

• In your home district. This would be to your advantage if you want to participate in local elections in your hometown. You can vote by absentee ballot or travel home for the election.
• In Portage County (that is, the county where we are located here at Kent State University). This is the easier option for you because it means you don't have to travel home or do an absentee ballot to vote. However, it does mean you can't vote in your local hometown election.

As an American citizen of voting age, you have the right to vote in ANY election where you are registered, whether it be a national, state or local election. You do not HAVE to vote in any of these elections.

Where to go to register. You can go to find registration materials at any of these locations:

• the County Board of Elections, usually located in the offices of the county seat. In Portage County, that would be in Ravenna;
• any Post Office;
• any library. On campus, go to the main library to get Portage County registration materials. Otherwise, go to your local library.

NOTE to those who are not eligible to vote because of age or citizenship. You may earn the same amount of credit if you complete a 2-page paper on voting: why you consider it important (or not); who you would vote for if you could and why. Give several reasons and explore at least one issue in some depth. For international students, you may pick your country if you are not yet familiar enough with American politics, although you might want to test your research skills and attempt a paper on the American political scene. Clearly write in your paper your age and why you are writing this paper.