It is finally 2016, and Election Day looms ever closer. Every day, the social media feeds of America’s youth grow more clogged with campaign propaganda in the hopes of swaying young voters. This can be confusing as they struggle to process the excess of political information as it is sensationalized for the sake of publicity.The youth vote is a vital political force, yet only thirty-eight percent of 18-24 year olds voted in 2012. Senior Danielle Audain said, “It is important for young people to go out and vote because this is the foundation for our future. We have to live with the decisions that these candidates make.” However, if young people do not show up to the polls, politicians have no incentives to cater to them. AP Government teacher Mr. Schneidewind commented, “Older people are twice as likely to vote as younger people. And until that changes, expect policies to be geared towards that demographic.” So how can a first time voter navigate the treacherous waters of an election? Here are some tips for new voters.

First and foremost, you have to fulfill all eligibility requirements for the polls. You must be eighteen years old by November 8 to vote in North Carolina elections and the Presidential election. This year’s primaries for NC will be held on March 15. If you are still seventeen but will be eighteen for the November 8 election, you are still eligible to vote in the primaries! Many young people are registered to vote when they receive their license, but if you do not have one, or for some reason did not register then, you can still do so. Voter registration forms are available at the DMV, at the Department of Social Services, online at www.ncvoter.org, or here at Millbrook. Mr. Schneidewind’s class has been going around to classrooms registering people, but for those they missed, schools are legally required to have forms on site in the office.

When you register, you have the option of choosing a party affiliation. However, keep in mind that North Carolina has closed primaries, so if you are not sure which primary you want to vote in, it is best to select unaffiliated so that you can choose later. If there is a second primary, you may only vote for the party that you voted for in the first primary.

Since the General Election will be in November, many of us may be in locations other than the precinct we registered in. To still vote, you must register in your new location, physically come back to the precinct of your registration, or submit an absentee ballot. If you go for any option other than an absentee ballot, you must have a viable ID. If you do not have a license or other such ID, you can apply for a free one at the DMV. Just make sure you do not place a vote in two locations in the same election because that would be illegal!

 Finally, it is important for young voters to be informed. Now is the time to start researching candidates’ platforms and considering where you stand on specific issues. Tools like http://isidewith.com can be helpful to get you started.  Danielle said, “In order to prepare for the upcoming election(s), I’m going to spend a lot of time looking at what the candidates from both parties stand for and what plans they have for when they take office. I think it’s important to do my own research and not focus on what is popular and in the media.”