On November 5, 2024, around 160 million United States citizens will actively participate in our democracy, voting at polls across the nation. Among these 160 million citizens are the seniors at Lincoln Public Schools who will be 18 years old on or before Election Day. Whether this describes you or not, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Gausman and Lancaster County Election Commissioner Mr. Todd Wiltgen are here to provide a few tips you should know before you vote.
Prior to Election Day, which is always the Tuesday following the first Monday of November, voters need to ensure they are registered to vote. In Nebraska, you can register by mail, at the DMV, or at the County Clerk/Election Commission. If you are registering by mail or at the DMV, you must do so by the third Friday preceding the election. Otherwise, you may still register to vote in-person at the County Clerk/Election Commission prior to 6 PM on the second Friday preceding the election.
Once you are registered, you should focus on researching your ballot options. “You have to make certain that your voice is heard, that your voice counts,” said Dr. Gausman. “It’s really important for us to see how the ballot is written in such a way that when you take a look at it, you know your perspective before you even go into the ballot box.”
While researching, though, it is best to source your information from the least biased sources. When a source is biased, it often provides unreliable information to satisfy a certain set of beliefs in order to gain the dime of its target audience. To check if a source is reliable, you can utilize a multitude of tools, including the AllSides Media Bias Chart for general sources, as well as the Snopes Fact Checker for specific claims made on the internet.
“We owe it to our community, and to our nation, to go into that ballot box well informed,” said Dr. Gausman. You only get one vote, so make sure you’re confident in what it will do.
After you register and do your research, you should understand what to expect on Election Day. “You have to provide either a Nebraska issued driver’s license or a state ID,” said Mr. Wiltgen. “If you don’t have a driver’s license, there are other options. Public secondary school and post-secondary school photo IDs are also accepted at the ballot.” Before you leave the house, ensure you have your photo ID with you.
Then, double check you are traveling to the correct precinct, or voting location, with the following Lancaster County Voter Precincts Map. Once you arrive, polling staff will check you in, hand you your ballot, and direct you to a poll booth to vote. When you’re done, you’ll return your ballot in the sleeve you were given and deposit it into the ballot box.
“A difference will be made by those who choose to vote,” said Dr. Gausman. “And as a result of that, we get the government that we deserve.”
