This election in November is the first time I am eligible to vote. I believe it is a privilege to get to vote, as some of my friends cannot vote, and activists have fought for hundreds of years so people like me can have the right to vote today.
We are not just voting for the candidates who are representing us, but for the topics and issues we care about, such as mental health.
This year, I had the opportunity to chat with many powerful leaders from a variety of backgrounds about mental health, including Senator Butler, and they shared their perspectives on what voting meant to them, and how they still remember the first time they voted.
In the spring, my high school had a voter registration drive, which was when I registered to vote. It was quick and easy, and a few weeks later I received a voter registration confirmation in the mail. Another way I could confirm that I was registered to vote was when I got my driver’s license. My state offers the option of voting by mail, so I was excited to be able to vote early.
There are so many ways to encourage those around you to vote, especially first-time voters. As we are counting down the days to Election Day on November 5th., I encourage you to ask those around you what their voting plan is!
If you’re a first time voter or need support making a voting plan, you can check out this helpful guide to get started.
You can ask your friends, classmates, coworkers, family members, and more if they are registered to vote. Once they are, they can cast their ballot in person at a polling place or vote by mail, like I did. (Nearly two dozen states allow you to register to vote on Election Day. To learn if you live in one of them, click here!)
Below are also a few online resources to help you register to vote, learn who and what is on your ballot, and find voter information.
If you are reading this, happy voting!
