{"582141":{"#nid":"582141","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tips for First-Time Voters","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor many colleges students, this is the first year they are eligible to vote for the next president of the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EStatistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show the significant impact of America\u0026rsquo;s youngest voters. Still, voters between the ages of 18 to 24 continue to vote at lower rates than other age groups.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis November, eligible students have the opportunity to let their voices be heard in the 2016 presidential election. Here are a few tips to prepare first-time voters for Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 8, 2016.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegister to Vote\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first step is to determine where you should be registered. If you are from Georgia (and hold a valid driver\u0026rsquo;s license or ID card), then you will register as a Georgia voter. If you are an out-of-state student, you can choose between registering in your home state or in Georgia, depending on your residency. Depending on your state, registration can be done online, in-person, or by mail. Visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vote.usa.gov\/\u0022\u003Evote.usa.gov\u003C\/a\u003E to select your state and register online if it\u0026rsquo;s available; if not, mail in the provided voter registration form on the site. Be sure to register at least several weeks before election day, as it may take time to receive confirmation. After registering, voter registration status can be checked \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mvp.sos.ga.gov\/MVP\/mvp.do\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, the deadline to register to vote is the fifth Monday before the election \u0026mdash; for the presidential election, that\u0026rsquo;s Tuesday, October 11. All mail should be postmarked by this date. Registration dates differ in each state, so check your applicable \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.rockthevote.com\/get-informed\/elections\/voter-registration-deadlines.html?referrer=https:\/\/www.google.it\/\u0022\u003Eregistration deadline\u003C\/a\u003E well in advance.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbsentee Voting \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOut-of-state students who are registered in their home state and do not plan to go home to vote in person November 8 will need to submit an absentee ballot ahead of time. Other voters who cannot make it to their poll location on Election Day are also given the opportunity to submit an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be applied for as early as 180 days before the election. The ballot must be submitted to the appropriate \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/sos.ga.gov\/cgi-bin\/countyregistrarsindex.asp\u0022\u003ECounty Board of Registrars Office\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt is recommended that absentee ballots be requested at least one month before Election Day, and the Georgia deadline for submission is the close of polls on Election Day. Out-of-state students planning to submit an absentee ballot to their home state should check their absentee ballot deadline, as they vary by state.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, any registered voter can request an absentee ballot. Some states require voters to provide an excuse in order to request an absentee.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia voters interested in checking the status of their absentee ballots can log in and view the status \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mvp.sos.ga.gov\/MVP\/mvp.do\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEarly Voting\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEarly voting in Georgia starts October 17. Early voting gives voters the flexibility to vote in-person on a day that may be more convenient than Election Day. This option was created to increase voter participation. Find your early polling location and times \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mvp.sos.ga.gov\/MVP\/mvp.do\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEarly voting will be available on campus for voters registered in Fulton County, on October 18-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Wardlaw Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElection Day\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EElection Day is Tuesday, November 8. Anyone who plans to vote in person must vote at their designated polling location. To check your Georgia polling location, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.mvp.sos.ga.gov\/\u0022\u003Emvp.sos.ga.gov\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia polling locations, voters are required to bring a form of ID. Here are the types of accepted identification:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EA Georgia driver\u0026#39;s license.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EA photo ID issued by a state or federal government agency.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EA valid U.S. passport.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EAn employee ID card containing your photograph and issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of Georgia.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EA valid U.S. military ID card.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EA valid tribal ID card.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EIf you do not have one of the above forms of ID, the State of Georgia offers a free Voter Identification Card.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVoting from Abroad\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMembers of the Georgia Tech community who will be out of the country during the voting process can request an absentee ballot through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fvap.gov\/\u0022\u003EFederal Voting Assistance Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOverview of Important Dates in Georgia\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESept. 20, 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E: Earliest day for a registrar to mail an absentee ballot (also recommended date to request absentee ballot if not done so already).\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOct. 11, 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E: Last day to register to be eligible to vote in the November election.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOct. 17, 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E: Early in-person voting begins.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOct. 29, 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E: Absentee ballots should be submitted as soon as possible.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENov. 4, 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E: Deadline for requesting absentee ballots in Fulton County.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENov. 8, 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E: Election Day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"For many colleges students, this is the first year they are eligible to vote for the next president of the United States."}],"uid":"27244","created_gmt":"2016-10-05 17:24:09","changed_gmt":"2016-10-05 17:24:09","author":"Sara Warner","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-10-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2016-10-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["parents@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}