Q. IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE?
A. Yes! State law requires that you be registered 30 days prior to the election (unless you move). If the 30-day deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, then the deadline shifts to the first business day following.
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Q. WHERE CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE OR CHANGE MY VOTING ADDRESS?
A. You can register at any Secretary of State office or web site, as well as change your registered address. You can also change your driver's license address with the Secretary of State. They will give you a temporary sticker for the back of your i.d. until you decide to get a new one, enabling you to vote in a different district.
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Q. COULD IT BE TO MY ADVANTAGE TO VOTE IN EAST LANSING?
A. You should consider voting in East Lansing if you are interested in the policies of the City Council, which affect such issues as parking, parties, public services, (e.g. fire and emergency services, building code enforcement, water and sewer, trash pick-up, recycling) law enforcement, ticketing, etc.
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Q. MY ROOMMATE TOLD ME THAT MY INSURANCE RATES COULD CHANGE IF I MAKE EAST LANSING MY VOTING ADDRESS. IS THIS TRUE?
A. In many instances there is no change. However, if you have concerns about your insurance rates, please contact your insurance carrier prior to changing your address with the Secretary of State or the City Clerk. How insurance rates are calculated varies by insurance company, the type of insurance coverage, whether your parent/guardian claims you as a dependent for income tax purposes, the location of your hometown, etc.
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Q. WHAT IF I REALLY WANT TO VOTE IN MY HOME TOWN?
A. Voting in your hometown is certainly an option and your right. You can do two things: on Election Day, you can go home and vote at the booth provided in your district, or send in an absentee ballot prior to Election Day. You can have an absentee ballot sent to your school address by calling your municipal clerk. Make sure you send it back promptly--if it arrives late, your vote won't be counted.
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Q. ON ELECTION DAY 2000, WHY WERE SOME STUDENTS TOLD THEY COULD NOT VOTE ON CAMPUS OR IN EAST LANSING?
A. Many students' Michigan driver's license or state ID addresses did not match the address on their voter registration cards. State law requires that the driver's license record address match the one on your voter registration card in order to cast your ballot.
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Q. SHOULD I VOTE IF I DON'T LIKE EITHER OF THE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT?
A. Yes! There are more than just two candidates in every presidential election. It can be beneficial to look at other candidates and you might find one who you would like to support.
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Q. IS THERE A WAY TO VOTE AT “HOME” FOR SOME ELECTIONS AND IN EAST LANSING FOR OTHERS?
A. Yes, but where you vote is determined by where you register to vote. So for example, if you register to vote in East Lansing, you must vote here at your assigned precinct. If, after the election is over, you wish to change your voter registration to your “home” address, you may do so and become eligible to vote in the next election in your home jurisdiction.
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Q. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REGISTER? CAN I DO IT OVER THE INTERNET?
A. It takes only a few minutes to register to vote. You can print a registration form from the internet and mail it in, but you cannot actually complete the registration online because it requires a signature.
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Q. CAN I STILL VOTE IF I LOSE THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL?
A. Yes, you can still vote! Be sure to have your driver's license/state issued picture ID with you when you go to the poll on Election Day.
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Q. WHAT ISSUES [THAT ARE VOTED ON] DIRECTLY AFFECT COLLEGE STUDENTS?
A. Each individual person has issues that are important to him or her. However, as college students some important issues might include education, education funding, healthcare, same-sex marriage, abortion, the war on terrorism, the draft, jobs and the economy, and many more. You can find non-partisan information about a variety of issues on the YouVote Issues page.
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Q. HOW DO I GET AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
A. You must first determine if you are eligible for an absentee voter ballot. You are eligible if you have registered to vote in person at a Secretary of State office or your local city or township clerk's office, or if you have voted in any previous election. If so, you are eligible to send a written, signed request to you local city or township clerk requesting an absentee voter ballot if you have one of the six reasons to request it. You can download a copy of a form letter to send to you clerk here.
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Q. IS THERE A WEBSITE WHERE I CAN FIND A NON-PARTISAN LIST OF ALL THE CANDIDATES' POLICIES AND CAMPAIGN INFO?
A. You are there! You Vote is a good place to find information about all of the candidates. Just click the link on the homepage for information in candidates in this years election.
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Q. DOES ONE PERSON'S VOTE REALLY AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION?
A. It sure does. If you recall the 2000 presidential election, Florida was won by 537 votes, while New Mexico was won by 366. Click here to see more examples of how one vote makes a difference.
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Q. MY ADDRESS ON MY MICHIGAN DRIVER'S LICENSE IS CORRECT BUT DOES NOT MATCH THE ADDRESS ON MY VOTER REGISTRATION CARD. DO I NEED TO RE-REGISTER?
A. Not necessarily. You are eligible to vote if the address on your driving record (not on your driver's license) and the address on your voter's registration card match.
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Q. HOW DO I KNOW WHERE MY POLLING PLACE IS AND HOW TO GET TO IT?
A. Your voter registration card tells you where your polling place is. If you click the Where am I Registered to Vote link, you will be directed to www.sospublius.org. If you type in your name, it will tell you where you are registered to vote and will provide the address of your polling place. You can get a map from there as well.
