Let’s talk about voting Meagan Smith, M.S. │Office of Active Citizenship and Service

Our discussion today:  Why do people say that they don’t vote?  What are the causes and impacts of low student voter turnout?  What next steps would you like to take?  Why do people say that they don’t vote?  What are the causes and impacts of low student voter turnout?  What next steps would you like to take?

My Vote Doesn’t Matter  2008 Minnesota Senate Race  More than 2.4 million votes cast  Al Franken won by 312 votes – that’s. 013%!  2012 Iowa Caucus  Mitt Romney – 30,015 votes  Rick Santorum – 30,007 votes  2016 Tennessee House Finance Committee  Committee members voted in favor of House Bill 1049  The bill lets parents of children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, a key measure of poverty, apply for a voucher if their school falls within one of the state's bottom 5 percent of schools.  2008 Minnesota Senate Race  More than 2.4 million votes cast  Al Franken won by 312 votes – that’s. 013%!  2012 Iowa Caucus  Mitt Romney – 30,015 votes  Rick Santorum – 30,007 votes  2016 Tennessee House Finance Committee  Committee members voted in favor of House Bill 1049  The bill lets parents of children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, a key measure of poverty, apply for a voucher if their school falls within one of the state's bottom 5 percent of schools.

I don’t know enough about the issues  FactCheck.org  VoteSmart.org  ISideWith.com  FactCheck.org  VoteSmart.org  ISideWith.com

I don’t know how to register to vote In Tennessee, a qualified voter must be properly registered no later than thirty (30) days before the election. The election commission office will process any by-mail voter registration form that has been postmarked at least thirty (30) days before the election. To qualify to vote in Tennessee you must be:  A U.S. citizen  A resident of Tennessee  At least 18 years old on or before the next election  You must not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have, your voting rights must have been restored In Tennessee, a qualified voter must be properly registered no later than thirty (30) days before the election. The election commission office will process any by-mail voter registration form that has been postmarked at least thirty (30) days before the election. To qualify to vote in Tennessee you must be:  A U.S. citizen  A resident of Tennessee  At least 18 years old on or before the next election  You must not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have, your voting rights must have been restored

I don’t know how to register to vote Qualified voters may pick up a Tennessee registration form at any of the following locations:  Office of Active Citizenship & Service (305 Rand)  Jean and Alexander Heard Library ( st Ave. S.)  The Commons Center  Sarratt Information Desk  Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life ( th Ave. S.) - OR -  Download and print the Tennessee Voter Registration form here: Complete the voter registration form and mail it to the appropriate County Election Commission postmarked at least 30 days before an election. County Election Commission Qualified voters may pick up a Tennessee registration form at any of the following locations:  Office of Active Citizenship & Service (305 Rand)  Jean and Alexander Heard Library ( st Ave. S.)  The Commons Center  Sarratt Information Desk  Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life ( th Ave. S.) - OR -  Download and print the Tennessee Voter Registration form here: Complete the voter registration form and mail it to the appropriate County Election Commission postmarked at least 30 days before an election. County Election Commission

I want to register to vote in my home state  Request an absentee ballot!  Official registration is still required before being eligible to request an absentee ballot  Contact your local election commission to learn about specific requirements and deadlines for absentee ballots  Absentee ballots often must be submitted in advance of an election – allow for plenty of time to request your absentee ballot  Some states require that your absentee ballot be witnessed and signed off by a notary or other witnesses  Request an absentee ballot!  Official registration is still required before being eligible to request an absentee ballot  Contact your local election commission to learn about specific requirements and deadlines for absentee ballots  Absentee ballots often must be submitted in advance of an election – allow for plenty of time to request your absentee ballot  Some states require that your absentee ballot be witnessed and signed off by a notary or other witnesses

I don’t know where to vote  tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/  GoVoteTN app  Early voting and Election Day polling locations and hours of operation  Candidate list for upcoming election  Ability to mark sample ballots for upcoming election  Navigation to early voting and Election Day polling locations  County election commission information  Access online election results through the application  tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/  GoVoteTN app  Early voting and Election Day polling locations and hours of operation  Candidate list for upcoming election  Ability to mark sample ballots for upcoming election  Navigation to early voting and Election Day polling locations  County election commission information  Access online election results through the application

I think I need ID or something to vote All voters must present a federal or Tennessee state ID containing the voter’s name and photograph when voting at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day. The information on this website is provided to ensure that all Tennessee voters have access to information about the new law. What IDs are acceptable? Any of the following IDs may be used, even if expired:  Tennessee driver license with your photo  United States Passport  Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security  Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government  United States Military photo ID  Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo Note: College student IDs are not acceptable All voters must present a federal or Tennessee state ID containing the voter’s name and photograph when voting at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day. The information on this website is provided to ensure that all Tennessee voters have access to information about the new law. What IDs are acceptable? Any of the following IDs may be used, even if expired:  Tennessee driver license with your photo  United States Passport  Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security  Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government  United States Military photo ID  Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo Note: College student IDs are not acceptable

I would need to get an official ID to vote You can get a free photo ID from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security! You will need:  Proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate), and  Two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement).  If your name differs from that on your primary ID, proof of the changed name (such as a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, etc.) You can get a free photo ID from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security! You will need:  Proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate), and  Two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement).  If your name differs from that on your primary ID, proof of the changed name (such as a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, etc.)

What others have you heard or experienced?  Check out civicyouth.org for more resources!

So what? Identify some roots, or causes, of low student voter turnout Identify some results, or the outgrowth, of low student voter turnout Food for thought: How do service and voting affect each other? How does or could service impact voter engagement?

Upcoming Elections and Deadlines  March 1 – Presidential Preference Primary  April 4 – Voter registration deadline for the May county primaries (where applicable)  April – Early voting for the May county primaries  May 3 – County primaries (where applicable)  July 5 – Voter registration deadline for the August state primary and county general elections  July – Early voting for the August state primary and county general elections  August 4 – State primary and county general elections  October 11 – Voter registration deadline for the November elections  October 19-November 3 – Early voting for the November elections  November 8 – Election Day  March 1 – Presidential Preference Primary  April 4 – Voter registration deadline for the May county primaries (where applicable)  April – Early voting for the May county primaries  May 3 – County primaries (where applicable)  July 5 – Voter registration deadline for the August state primary and county general elections  July – Early voting for the August state primary and county general elections  August 4 – State primary and county general elections  October 11 – Voter registration deadline for the November elections  October 19-November 3 – Early voting for the November elections  November 8 – Election Day

Now what?  Reflect on your own questions, challenges, vision around voter education and engagement  Ask lots of questions and invite others to join the discussion  Connect with OACS and let us know how we can serve and support you!  Reflect on your own questions, challenges, vision around voter education and engagement  Ask lots of questions and invite others to join the discussion  Connect with OACS and let us know how we can serve and support you! 305 Rand (615)