Take Advantage of Early Voting

The AAUW Action Fund’s It’s My Vote: I Will Be Heard voter education and turnout campaign represents an unprecedented investment in making women’s voices heard in the 2012 election. Follow us on Twitter and on Tumblr for the latest updates, and check out our biweekly Campaign Update for news, resources, and ideas.

I have never voted on Election Day.

Let me clarify — I have voted in every presidential and midterm election since the year I turned 18. I cherish my right to vote, and I take it very seriously — that’s one of the reasons why I work on the It’s My Vote: I Will Be Heard campaign! But I have never voted on Election Day because for every election, I have taken advantage of early voting.

And I’m not the only one. In 2008, nearly 30 percent of all ballots were cast early. Forty states and Washington, D.C., offer some form of early voting. Some states call it “in-person absentee voting,” which is a phrase that amuses me to no end. In 32 of those states and in D.C., you are not required to present an excuse to vote early, and in states where an excuse is required, it can be as simple as certifying that you work outside of the county or have reason to suspect that you will be outside of the county on Election Day. Early voting has already begun in 37 states, and it will begin in three more states by this time on Monday.

Why vote early? Early voting is a great way to avoid the long lines on Election Day and make sure you have time to cast your vote in this crucial election. Often, there are multiple places where you can cast your vote early as opposed to only one polling place on Election Day. This means it can be easier to work voting into your schedule. Each state and county sets its own rules on the number of days and hours when early voting is open, but you can count on there being a few different dates for your schedule. And in some places, you still get the “I Voted” sticker when you vote early!

I encourage you to consider voting early this year. Check your secretary of state’s website to find out the dates and locations for early voting in your area. Bring your friends, family members, and colleagues — you can even arrange a carpool to help people get to the polls for early voting! Before you head to the polls, check out the AAUW Action Fund’s voter education resources, including the VoteHER Toolkit and issue fact sheets.

Don’t worry, I won’t take it personally if you choose to vote on Tuesday, November 6, instead of voting early. But whatever you do, make sure to cast your ballot and make your voice heard!