This upcoming election is, to say the least, extremely important. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or still trying to figure out why we’re stuck in the primeval purgatory of a two-party system, your life will be altered by the outcome of this election in some major way. The president sets the tone for the nation; if our leader is a stuck-up, rich racist, the people will often follow suit. If we want to live in a country that we can be proud of, if we want to fly the flag on our deck and know we stand for equality and equity, we need to either get down to the polling station or stick a stamp on a very important envelope. Although the election is Nov. 2, you need to decide now how you want to exercise your basic right to vote.
Especially as college students soon to enter the real world, the next four years with a new president can shape the rest of our lives, so we need to take advantage of the democratic system (or what is left of it) and cast our ballots. Whether 45 had a positive or negative impact on your life, whoever fills slot 46 in the grand ole year of 2020 will set the course for the next few years. With COVID-19 spiraling out of control, worsening climate change, battling against racism, fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and the race to save democracy, we must vote to secure a healthy future for ourselves and those that come behind us. We must make a change- to do so, we need to vote.
If you feel safe, you may choose to vote in person at your designated precinct. After you register to vote (either at your permanent home address or campus residency if you haven’t done so already), find your county’s website to determine what precinct you will visit. As Clemson said in their recent email about voting, the precinct you normally go to may change due to COVID-19. After you know exactly where to go, the rest is fairly simple; make sure you arrive with enough time to cast your ballot before the polls close, wear a mask at all times, distance yourself from others and be kind to your poll workers. They likely will be there before you wake up and probably leave after you’ve downed your fourth margarita as an attempt to forget the trouble our nation is in.
Voting by mail is a slightly different story, one you must begin now instead of later due to the current state of the USPS. If you do not feel safe going to the polls, which is totally understandable as no one should be forced to subject themselves to a deadly disease in order to vote for the next face of the nation, you will need to request an absentee ballot. This process might be a little lengthy, and time is not on your side. Although you technically can request your absentee ballot up until four days before the election, this is not the time to wait until the last minute. Save that for your studying, not voting. To vote by mail you must download an application. Then, you must either mail, email or deliver your application to the voter registration office you are assigned. According to www.scvotes.gov, you must “return your application at least two weeks before election day to provide time for receiving and returning your ballot by mail”. While we know the deadline is 5 p.m. on the fourth day before the election, you shouldn’t risk your future by waiting. Every vote counts. Once you are approved, you will receive your ballot a month before the election. From then on, all you have to do is cross out the little box, sign your name in blood and either mail or personally deliver your ballot by the allotted time. Make sure you get it in the mail as soon as possible, the state of the nation depends on it. Just for clarification: you can only vote by mail once. One time. One vote per person. Even if you are in North Carolina. Some government officials did not know that, but you do.
No matter what avenue you chose, you need to vote. You need to actively create the world you want to live in by voting this Nov. Remember, if you want to do so through an absentee ballot, you must complete your application as soon as possible. Afterwards, you are free to make whatever choice you see fit.
