Where to Find Voting Forms, Voter Registration, Info about Absentee Voting Online 

With the election season coming up, you may have questions about where to find voter registration forms and how to get early ballots. If you’re new to the voting process, kudos to you for learning about how to vote before heading to the polls!

Regardless of party affiliation, everyone has to vote where they’re legally allowed to and correctly, or your vote may not count. Here, we cover where to find the voting forms, how to register, and what you’ll need for voting day.  

How to Find State-Specific Forms?

Although federal voting laws exist, individual states have varying rules and regulations about who, when, and where you can vote. To ensure you vote correctly, read through state-specific forms before registering to vote. Finding the correct forms can be challenging, which is why OneLaunch added a Forms app to the OneLaunch library. To access your form, tap the plus sign at the top of the dock. Select Forms to pin it to the dock. Now, you can click the Forms icon and choose your state from the dropdown menu. Click the Voting icon, and OneLaunch will take you to your state’s website.

How To Register To Vote?

Now that you have the proper state forms, you must register to vote before casting a ballot. Every state, minus North Dakota, requires would-be voters to register before voting in an election. Note that while this year’s presidential election isn’t until the second Tuesday in November, states have registration deadlines (for some, the cutoff is 40 days before an election, while others allow until Election Day).

That means if you fail to check for voter registration deadlines and don’t complete all the steps to vote lawfully, you won’t be able to vote until the next election, which would be four years in the case of a president.

To start, visit Vote.gov and select your state from the dropdown menu. Once on your state’s voter registration page, follow the instructions to register online. Alternatively, you can register to vote at your local clerk’s office. You will need your driver’s license or state ID, and proof of address (if it’s not up to date on your state-issued ID). In addition to proof of who you are and where you live, there are other eligibility requirements that you must meet, such as turning 18 before Election Day. If you’re unsure how or whom to vote for, you can get voter guides and sample ballots to see who’s on the ballot and how a ballot looks.

What Do I Need on Voting Day?

Once you’ve legally registered to vote in the upcoming election, there are a few do’s and don’ts to follow on Election Day. You must vote at your assigned polling place (indicated on your voter’s registration card). Although rules may vary, most polling places prohibit voters from bringing any campaign, election, or partisan materials, guns, or asking fellow voters to sign petitions. On the other hand, here are things you can bring:

• Valid photo ID: You may need an ID, depending on your location. Check with your city or county clerk about local requirements for acceptable forms of identification.
• Voter’s guides and sample ballots (mentioned above): You can bring those along or your own notes about the candidates, measures, and other relevant details to your vote.
• Voter registration card: While not always required, bringing it if you have one is a good idea.
• Personal items: A phone, water bottle, snacks, or a book are often allowed. However, you should check to see if there are specific restrictions at your polling place.
• Assistive devices: If you need any assistive devices or technology for accessibility purposes, these are generally permitted.
• Children under age 18: Most polling places allow adults to bring minors with them, which can be a great experience for young kids to see democracy in action. 

How to Absentee Vote or Vote Early

Although voting typically takes place in person, there are instances (you’re in another state, country, or sick) when you may want or need to vote via an absentee ballot, vote by mail, or vote in person early.

Absentee ballots: You may be able to request an absentee ballot from your local city clerk or apply for an absentee ballot online on your state’s website through the Voting section of the OneLaunch Forms app. You may have to provide a reason for your request for an absentee ballot. Remember to read your local requirements, including voting deadlines. To vote by mail or with an absentee ballot, you simply fill out your ballot and return it by the stated absentee ballot deadline. 

Early voting: Some states allow early voting, which is a legal voting process where the secretary of state or state board of elections opens polls early. Find your state’s voting authority through the Voting section of the OneLaunch Forms app to find out when and where early voting takes place. Typically, early voting takes place in person at local branches of state agencies (secretary of state’s local offices, for example). 

Mail-in ballots: States that offer the option to vote by mail send mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Your state may accept ballots by mail, in-person at your local assigned voting location, or secure ballot drop-off boxes.

Note that all methods allow you to return your ballots early (before Election Day), some up to 75 days in advance. Once you return your ballot, you can track it through your state’s website. These descriptions are very general and vary from state to state. If you have questions, you can contact your local election office for assistance. 

Photo 199720239 | Absentee Ballots | Susan Sheldon | Dreamstime.com