Volume 1 | Issue 1

4/12/16

Voting 101

Requirements and Registration:

To vote anywhere, it is very important to check to see if you are
things
to toremember
eligible to vote. HereImportant
are the requirements
in order
be
considered eligible: if registering on voting day:

A vote is like
a rifle; its
usefulness
depends upon
the character
of the user.
-Theodore
Roosevelt

1. You must be a In
U.Sorder
Citizen.
to register on voting day, it is
2. You must meet your states residency requirements.
important
to remember
these
things:
3. You must be 18
years of age.
However, some
states
allow
17 year olds to vote
in primariesLicense:
if they turn
18anyone
before the
1. Drivers
For
under
general election.

the age of 65, this is very important.

your
name,
After you have checkedThis
that gives
you arethem
eligible
to vote,
youdate of
should now register to vote.
three
simple ways
birth,There
and are
place
of very
residence.
(All
Registering
with
a
party:
to register to vote:
very important things to register.
2.
Social
Security
Needed
Many
people
feel Number:
pressured
to
1. Online: Go to vote.usa.gov and select your state to get
to your
prove
identity
and
prevent
fraud.
identify
with
either
the
republican
started. It will open
up
own
states
voting
website.
Just follow the prompts
and enter theparty.
required
information
or democratic
Many
voters
into the form.
even
identify
with
2. In Person: Theredo
arenot
many
ways fully
to register
at public
places. Some examples
eitherinclude:
of these parties. For this
State and local election offices
reason, many people register as
The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)
Quite frankly,
having
an a
an independent.
This
may be
Armed services
recruitment
centers
uninformed
populace
State and local
public
assistance
offices
(food
smart
idea
for people
who works
are still
stamps, WIC, etc.)extremely well, particularly
undecided,
or
may
share views
3. By Mail: Go to vote.usa.gov
and
clickhave
on theaNational
when
you
mediaMail
that
parties.
if you
Voter Registrationwith
Form.both
You can
either fillHowever,
it out digitally
doesn't
understand
its Be
and print it, or print
a blank political
form and fill
it out by
hand.
change
views
or
decide
responsibility
andthe
feels
more
sure to sign the form, and
check to make sure
address
which
party
youarm
want
register
like
it's an
of to
a political
is the correct one for your
state.

for, you
may
always
change
the
party.
They
can really
take
of an uninformed
partyadvantage
you are registered
online, or
populace.
in any
other place that you can
-Ben
register. Carson

Be a rational
voter!

Irrational Voting:

Unfortunately, many
Americans fit under this
description of voting. Irrational
voting describes when someone
only seeks for enough information
for that person to make their
decision. This kind of voting
seems to be almost unconscious.

Many voters fit under this

description because it takes as
little of effort as possible. Rather
than trying to critically think about
issues and analyze the
information, you just make a
decision.
Another aspect of irrational
voting is picking a candidate
based off of one issue that the
candidate may agree with you on.
Once again, rather than
researching more, and figuring out
what the candidate stands for on
all other issues, you just make a
decision.
This type of voting can be
very dangerous. This may be
exactly why Donald Trump may be
elected.

A vote is like a
rifle: its
usefulness
Rational depends
Voting:upon
thehand,
character
On the other
rational of
voting is when the
voters
research the
user
most information
about every
-Theodore
single candidate. Rational voters
Roosevelt
consider and analyze all of the
information that they have
discovered, and then make their
decision based off of what
candidate fits their
beliefs/opinions the best.

A big part of being a rational

voter is analyzing the media.
Many news networks or other
media outlets may be biased, or
have some kind of political
agenda. Watch out for networks
that are hard right or hard left. It is
always a good idea to look at both
sides, or try to find a neutral
website.
Another thing to being a
rational voter is to watch for
outside opinions. Many voters let
family or friends over-influence
their opinions. Of course it is good
to have debates/talk with your
family, but do not let their
opinions override your own.

Rational Randy:
Randy is a rational voter. He
watches both the democratic and
republican debates in order to get
what the candidates believe
directly from them. Randy often
debates with his family and
friends while keeping an open
mind. However, he does not let
other people over-take his
opinion. Randy does a lot of
online research and tries to visit
both sides; Fox News, CNN, NBC,
etc. After researching, he then
makes his decision based on the
candidate that agrees with him
the most. Be like Randy.

Irrational Ian:
Ian, is an irrational voter. As you
can see, Ian watches a lot of TV.
But instead of watching the
debates, Ian only watches Fox
News, Duck Dynasty, and
Keeping up with the
Kardashians. Ian talks with his
family and friends about politics,
but never gives anyone else any
time to speak, and is never
open to changing his ideas. Ian
does a lot of online research
by reading Facebook posts from
his friends. Ian openly states
that he will vote for anyone
that does something about the
Mexicans. Do not be Ian.