BRADENTON FL – Voting… so fun. Paperwork, lines, internal moral crisis. Sounds like a grand time. Let’s be honest, in theory this doesn’t sound like a fun way to spend a Tuesday, but it is a necessary one and rewarding so long as you’re informed. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, before researching the tedious details of each politician, amendment and elected official, registering to vote is the barrier that halts many before they can even get to the polls. So, how do you register to vote? Now you can register in three ways: online, by mail or in-person. 

Ways to Register 

Registering online is considered the most convenient… because it is. Despite the ease, you actually have two options of what website to use. If you want to use the Florida Department of State Website, just go here, follow the instructions and congratulations, you’re registered. Now for a website that serves as functionally the same, but with a simplistic and more user-friendly interface, vote.gov fits the bill. You answer the same information, but the form is clearer and the website functions better on mobile. Just go here, follow the prompts once again and you’re done. 

Now, mail and in-person are quite similar; you fill out the same form with the same information. The only difference is, as the name suggests, if you mail the completed application or deliver it by hand. The form is here. Just print it, fill it out and either mail it or bring it with you to one of the places mentioned on the form under the instructions. 

Success!  

Congratulations, you registered! Now that the paperwork is done let’s figure out who you want to vote for. In an ideal world, you could just look up the candidates and receive unbiased and entirely true information. Unfortunately, the world we live in is far from ideal and finding non-biased sources is nearly impossible. Although there’s a few, I personally like a website called Vote Smart. It is, in my experience, free, unbiased and easy to use (no this isn’t sponsored). It has info on candidates for elections on every level. This isn’t the only site, but it is the only one I care to mention. 

Do us all a favor, don’t skip the research. The only wasted vote is the vote of a person who, rather than researching, based their stance on others’ opinions. 

Ways to Vote 

Decisions, decisions, decisions. First the way of registering, then… well this. You only have two options this time, voting in person or by mail. Yet again there’s no right or wrong answer, it all depends on convenience and ability. Luckily you have already read up on all the amendments and candidates so it should be quick and easy. 

Voting in person is the traditional way, it involves the stereotypical process you’ve probably seen in movies: wait until election day, stand in line and wait your turn, and vote. Simple, it involves a lot of waiting, but what doesn’t?  

Yet another option by mail, your ballot will show up in the mail, you fill out all your information from the comfort of your own home and send it back. 

Final Thoughts 

No sane person would claim voting is fun, nor stress-free, but it is vital to a functional democracy and can be quite rewarding.