Let’s Unite Our Voices and Vote Early
Every year voting has always been an essential tradition, a custom issued by the state. This voting event allows and gives every person who decides to vote the right, opportunity, and power to express their voice, mind, and opinion.
Through voting, people are able to dictate and decide who they want as a leader a good leader who will always prioritize the needs of the citizens. Someone who truly wants to make and see a positive change amongst communities and people. Also, someone who wants to provide more resources that will not only benefit them and a certain group of people but anyone who truly needs resources and decides to take good advantage of them. As of today early voting elections this year are on track to break a new record.
Furthermore, it is essential for every single person who is able to vote to take advantage of the great opportunity elections because there are many people who are not able to vote because of the lack of rights preventing them from voting. However, if given the chance they would take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
Also, is important to remember our history when voting and participating in elections, the reason people are voting, and who they are voting for. We have to remember that before only a certain group of people were able to vote. People with power, people who were white, and only elite people had the right to vote. Everyone should raise their voice through voting and change the future through our votes.
What are The Requirements to Vote
Now days voting is a privilege and there are a set of rules and requirements that people need to meet before they are allowed to vote or participate in any elections. For example, some of the requirements for voting include:
- Being a United States Citizen (only a small number of places allowed non-citizens to vote).
- Meeting your state residency requirements (anyone who meets these standers is allowed to vote no matter what).
- Being 18 years or older before election day (A small number of places allowed people who are 16 years old to vote in local issues on election days).
- People need to be registered to vote in their state.
What are Some Factors That Prevent a Person from Voting
Just like there are people who are allowed to vote and meet the standers for participating in elections and voting, there is also different factor and standers that some people do not meet and prevent them from voting. These factors include:
- Not being a citizen (Although some non-citizens can vote, the possibility of not being allowed to vote is still there. Even legal residents sometimes are not allowed to vote).
- People serving time in jail and that have been convicted of a crime are not allowed to vote.
- People who are not in the right mental conditions or are mentally incapacitated for voting are not allowed to vote.
Although people sometimes want to vote and participate in elections there are different factors and standers for voting that prevent them from forming part of such an important decision. This is why if people are able to vote meet all the standers and are in perfect condition for voting. A citizen that wants to see one’s state progress needs to take advantage of this opportunity.
Breaking The Record
As of February 28 municipal elections near Chicago is on track to breaking early voting and vote-by-mail records. For this early voting election, this year is on track to breaking a new record. As of Thursday, night voters have submitted early votes of 85,806 votes in total, 28,283 votes enter in different voting sites and 57,523 votes submitted via votes-by-email. This puts Chicago on top for surpassing other city election days, officials confirm this statement.
This point is also proven by comparing the 2019 elections day on February 14. When the city was 12 days away from that year’s election day. There were 22,305 early votes submitted and 5.383 votes were submitted via votes-by-mail. Which is much less compared to this year’s early election votes.
In addition, the votes were much less in 2015 as well. Furthermore, if this continues to happen and votes continue to be submitted the number of votes will be much higher. Regardless of those people that will wait until the election day to cast their votes.
Where Can You Vote
There is a variety of different ward sites where people can vote and also go to cast their vote in early. Some of these ward sites are:
- 1st Ward: Goldblatts Building, 1615 West Chicago Avenue.
- 2nd Ward: Near North Branch Library, 310 West Division Street.
- 3rd Ward: Dawson Technical Institute, 3901 South State Street.
- 4th Ward: Dr. Martin Luther King Center, 4314 South Cottage Grove Avenue.
- 5th Ward: South Side YMCA, 6330 South Stony Island Avenue.
The Wards mentioned above are only a couple of wards out of many more different wards and sites people can go to cast their vote. There is also a university site where people can go and cast their early vote and a downtown site as well people just need to find a ward suitable and available for them.
Cast Your Vote
Voting is a fast and easy process that does not take much time of your day away. When going to vote you just need two forms of identification when voting on election day and when voting early as well. This is a requirement just in case anything happens.
Please consider voting during this election and cast your votes because it might be the one that makes the difference. When we unit and bring our voice together we can make a great different for our future, our families future and the generations that are to come. Take advantage of your opportunity and do not let it slip away.
Written By: Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
Block Club Chicago: Early Voting Is Ahead Of Chicago’s February Election, Which Could Drive Higher Turnout Overall
Block Club Chicago: Early Voting Begins Monday For Chicago. Here’s Where You Can Go In Each Ward
USAGov: Who Can and Can’t Vote in U.S. Elections
Inset Image Courtesy of Thomas Hawk Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
Featured Image Courtesy of Ian Sane Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
