Paul Benson
Reporter
This upcoming U.S. midterm election is one of the most important elections in U.S. history. It is no surprise that the idea of voting can be very daunting for a good majority of people. Many people are uncomfortable with conflict in general. For people with social anxiety the entire political process can be too much to handle, though a large amount of people don’t vote for other reasons. Many don’t know when or where to vote, they find registering to be too difficult, they don’t have time, they’re cynical of the process, they hate the candidates, or they don’t feel informed enough to make an educated vote. All of these factors can make the voting process difficult for both new and returning voters. Luckily there are resources available to help anxious voters stay informed and confident this election cycle.
There are a few resources Parkland students and staff should know about that can definitely help with the voting process. You can Google search “registering to vote” and candidate information on your own, or you could visit library.parkland.edu/elections. On this Parkland Library page, you can find links for registering to vote, seeing what’s on the ballot, finding candidate information, and fact checker sites. This is a really great page of resources for voters to stay informed.
While there are many great resources out there, it can be a lot to process. The first step is to register. The deadline to register to vote online in the upcoming election is October 21st and you need an Illinois ID. Registering is pretty easy so long as you know standard information such as your address and SSN. Once you’ve registered to vote, you should stay informed on who and what you are voting for.
An informed voter should understand what their candidates stand for. There are plenty of voters who don’t figure this crucial information out and instead vote for either team blue or red. Problem is, policies are not simple enough to fit inside of a dichotomy – like the party system. Luckily there are plenty of resources for voters to stay informed on the important issues. The website ballotready.org, helps you find more information out about your local, state, and national elections. This website is almost like a cheat sheet for elections. It provides all the information you need in a very easy to understand format.
Votechampaign.org is also an easy to use website that gives you all the information you need to know about voting in Champaign county. The information is more specific to Champaign voters and will give you specific information about what’s on the ballot in the local elections. A little bit of research on each candidate can make a huge difference in understanding who represents your core beliefs and values the best.
In the U.S. we have the right to vote in a democracy, which is more than some countries have to offer. Government policies today will make a difference in fifty years, and if you can’t or don’t end up voting on or before November 6, this year, there are future elections and primaries that you can participate in. Voting is part of a healthy democracy, and regardless of how you cast a ballot on election day, every vote matters.
