There’s no doubt that voting is one of the most important aspects of being a U.S. citizen. Voting ensures that those who want a say in the government get one. With the next presidential election coming up in November, applying to vote is more important than ever. 

New voters can apply to vote before their 18th birthday, as long as they will be 18 by the next General Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. New voters can still vote in the election even if their birthday falls on election day, November 5.

Ohio allows those who will be 18 before the General Election to vote in the Primary Election to nominate presidential candidates, even if those voters are not currently 18.

How to Apply to vote:

New voters can go to http://olvr.ohiosos.gov, which provides everything needed to apply to vote. The website also provides a video that explains how easy it is to apply and even goes through the application process to make it even easier. New Applicants must apply to vote no later than October 7, 2024 for the November 5, 2024, election.

After going to the website new voters will be able to access the application form, this form takes the register through a series of questions to make sure the applicant is eligible to receive voting privileges. 

What is Needed to Complete the Application:

There are a few things a new applicant will be required to have when completing the application. 

An Ohio driver’s license or Ohio identification card number, their name, their date of birth, their address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. While going through the form there will be fill-in boxes to type in all of the information needed to ensure one is eligible to vote.

If new voters do not have the information needed, don’t worry, you can still apply to vote. There is a paper application that will have to be printed out, completed, and mailed to the applicant’s county board of elections. 

Home Address or College Address?

According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, it is always best to stick with your parent’s residence address as it is illegal to apply to vote using two different addresses. 

There are many ways to vote while not being at home on the election date. Voters can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail or vote in person up to 28 days before an election in their home district.

However, It is possible to use your college residential address to vote from as long as you intend to return to that address and update your permanent address upon graduating and leaving college.

Eligibility Requirements:

Making sure one is eligible to vote before applying is important so that the applicant’s time is not wasted as well as the reviewer’s time. According to the website, to be eligible to vote applicants must have all of the following qualifications:

• You are a citizen of the United States.
• You will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election.
• You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote.
• You are not incarcerated (in jail or in prison) for a felony conviction.
• You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court.
• You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violations of election laws.

If one does not have all of the requirements above then there is no need to fill out an application because one is not eligible to receive voting rights.

Why voting is Important:

Every vote is considered equal, this means one person’s vote could easily sway an entire election. What could happen if every person who turned 18 before the next general election applied to vote and voted?

“We are only as strong as our weakest link.”  Voting is a form of representation and is currently the only way to directly impact the future of the United States. If everyone in the USA were to vote, that is over 300 million voices who are helping change the direction of the country. 

By voicing the country’s needs through voting, the government is more likely to attune to those voiced needs, whether it is the economy, education, healthcare, or even the state of veterans and armed forces.