One of the many rights United States citizens have is the right to vote!

While it may seem self-explanatory, many are ignorant when it comes to the process of actually registering and later voting. As teenagers, it may not seem as important to start thinking about voting because many feel if they are not educated on politics then they should not vote. For this very reason, it is extremely important for adolescents to do their own research when it comes to their government. Decisions that politicians make now could negatively affect the futures of young citizens. 

“I honestly had no idea you had to register to vote before actually voting,” senior Avery Haney stated. “I just thought when you turned 18 you would already be able to [vote].”

Because there are many older people in high government positions, they tend to lean towards legislature that would benefit them, while not worrying about the aftermath their decisions could have on younger generations. So, while it may seem pointless now, it is actually the most crucial time to get educated and vote!

Before taking the huge plunge into voting, one must first register to vote. In Georgia, you must be 17.5 years old to register and 18 to vote. However, age is just one small requirement amongst many others when registering to vote.

Others include:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a legal resident of Georgia and the country in which you want to vote
• Not serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude
• Not have been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent, unless the disability has been removed

There are two ways to register to vote. One: Register online! All you need to do is go to your nearest device and go to the website linked here. On the website, you will have the option of entering your information on the website OR printing the paper and sending it off in the mail. The second way to register is by going to your local DMV and registering there. After registering, you will be sent a Precinct Card which will let you know where you need to know in order to vote. *Note: you do not need your precinct card when you go to vote*

After all that, your job is to stay informed and make decisions based on your educated beliefs! Voting is not hard and it is not difficult! Primaries tend to begin in May and lead all the way to November, the most important month for voting.

The number of politically active adolescents in the United States is constantly growing, but there are still many who have no care in the world about voting. While it may not seem significant now, it is gravely important to have more politically educated youths. For the seniors who are coming close to the required age to register/are already 18, please register and stay informed!