While Howard Dean's impassioned presidential campaign might have been too wild to maintain widespread momentum, his unique focus on energizing college-age voters is one campaign that need not die out. Eighteen years old, and the Constitution says you get a say in who takes office.
Granted, that is, that you haven't been convicted of a felony or vote fraud or two or more violent crimes. (One violent crime, of course, is ok...)
Between voter registration and absentee ballots, the red tape and paperwork involved in the process can easily crush one's activist vigor. Following the volatile presidential campaign is work enough -- while at Hopkins, how (the hell?) do you vote in Maryland?
First, let's get things straight. If you're from New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington, Virginia or another state with an early primary, you're too late for the Democratic primaries. Look ahead for the presidential election in November.
If you're from New York, Vermont or California, you are conveniently in sync with Maryland: Election Day is March 2. Other states (Montana?!) can hang out for a bit. Montana residents don't vote until ... June 8.
What's the deal with registration?
Basically, registration is mandatory and you must register early enough to get your registration card before Election Day. However, most states have registration black out around Election Day.
Registration according to residential district hasn't changed much since the old days, when citizens had to return to their hometown to be counted and to pay taxes (think King Herod and Mary and Joseph riding a donkey to Bethlehem).
To vote in the United States, you must be a U.S. citizen with a permanent U.S. address. You are assigned a voting district according to your permanent address, and -- the catch -- you can only vote in that district. Your permanent address is probably not your current (i.e. convenient) address, but your parents' house (unless you've started getting your tax returns sent to your home-sweet-Baltimore-home). Thus, if you're not from Baltimore City (most of us aren't), you can't visit a voting booth here on Election Day.
Luckily, you don't need a donkey trip home to cast your vote anymore, but you will need an absentee ballot. Here are some other catches.
You must have your voter registration card in order to vote. You must register in person or by mail (not online). You must have photo ID or proof of permanent address, and most importantly, you usually can't register within 20 days of the election.
What is an absentee ballot?
Just to recap, you can only vote in your district, so if you won't be there on Election Day, you have to either forfeit your vote (wouldn't recommend it), or submit your vote via absentee ballot (highly recommended).
In order to do this, you must already be a registered voter, and you must apply for an absentee ballot early enough to receive it and send it back.
Most voting districts have Web sites, and you can quickly apply online for an absentee ballot. All you need is your current address and an excuse from their checkbox (ie. hospital-bound, out-of-state student, etc). They'll send the ballot to your mailing address about two weeks prior to your state Election Day. It's your job to get it back in time.
So (unless your state primaries are over), let's get crackin.'
If you're from Maryland...
And need to register:
Well, you're already too late to register to vote for the primaries. However, register now so that you're set for the next election (and the rest of your life, until you move). The General Election is the big one anyway. Call the state election board to request a registration application at 1-800-222-8683, or download it online at http://www.elections.state.md.us/citizens/how_to_vote.html. No registrations are processed in the period from 20 days before elections to 10 days after.
And are already registered:
You can only request an absentee ballot by mail up to a week before Election Day (before Feb. 24). Go online to the Maryland State Board of Elections at http://www.elections.state.md.us/registered_voters/absentee_ballot.html and print out and mail your request as soon as possible.
You must postmark your ballot before Election Day, Tues. March 2, and it has to arrive by 4 p.m. March 3. The County Board will count all absentee ballots. Conveniently, you don't need your ballot notarized.
If you're from out-of-state...
And still need to register:
Your state Board of Elections is the place to get things done. Access their Web site, and you can follow instructions to apply for a voter registration card. Hurry up and apply for an absentee ballot (if it's not too late).
And are already registered:
Again, contact your local election office to apply for an absentee ballot.
The key, of course, is to submit your ballot ON TIME so that it is counted. Otherwise, your vote is good for nothing, and you just wasted your time, their paper and a stamp.
Most states will count absentee ballots at the end of Election Day -- which means your vote must arrive by the end of Election Day. Play it safe and double check. For a list of postmark and arrival deadlines in your state, see the Federal Electoral Commission Web site at http://www.fec.gov/pages/faqabsentee.htm.
