The countdown to the national election keeps ticking away. Whether you’ve picked your candidates or remain undecided on ballot issues, every American citizen is entitled to participate in the democratic process.
But how can you make your vote count if you’re away on a locum tenens job come November 8? Also, have voting laws in your state changed since the last campaign cycle, which could affect when, where, and how you cast your ballot?
Here’s a brief overview of some of the key elements regarding voting in the 2016 elections.
Who can vote
American citizens who are at least 18 years old and meet state residency requirements are eligible to vote in both federal and state elections. Most states require people to register before they’re allowed to fill out ballots. Contact your local department of motor vehicles or state election offices for specifics or download the National Mail Voter Registration Form (NMVRF).
Note: Neither North Dakota nor Wyoming accept the NMVRF, and New Hampshire only accepts it as a request for absentee mail-in ballots.
Also, individual state election offices have set registration cut-off dates for the upcoming election, so don’t wait. Registration deadlines may come as early as seven weeks before election day, which is quickly approaching.
How to vote
If you know you’ll be home the second week of November, you can go to your assigned polling site to vote. If you know you’ll be on a locum tenens assignment that day, or you don’t want to miss out on either voting or accepting a short-term contract that may come up, consider filing an absentee ballot.
All states and the District of Columbia provide residents the opportunity to cast an absentee ballot; however, not all states operate equally. According to Vote.org, the majority of states allow absentee ballots without providing an excuse for why you can’t vote in person. Twenty-one states, however, mandate voters meet certain criteria. The following is a breakdown of how those rules may pertain to locum tenens professionals.
Absentee voting
States that allow absentee voting if you’re out of your district, city, county or state of residence:
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
States with additional conditions:
- Arkansas: Allows absentee voting if you’re out of the county of residence; voters must include a copy of their Arkansas ID with the ballot.
- Delaware: Allows absentee voting if business or your occupation interferes with voting in person. Delaware absentee ballot applications must be notarized if you’re out of town for business purposes.
- Kentucky: Allows absentee voting if you’re employed outside your county of residence on election day
- Louisiana: Allows absentee voting if you’re out of the state for the day. However, if you are new to the state and registered by mail, you most cast your first vote in person.
- North Carolina: Absentee ballots can be granted without an excuse; however, the state does not accept digital signatures. The application also requires a driver’s license number or Social Security number. If neither is available, a copy of an approved ID along with a notary’s signature or the signatures of two witnesses must be included.
- South Carolina: Allows absentee voting if you’re out of your county of residence for the day for professional reasons.
- Tennessee: Allows absentee voting if you’re out of your county of residence for the day. If this is the first election in which you’ll be casting a Tennessee ballot, you must vote in person unless you register in person.
- Virginia: Allows absentee voting if you’re out of the county of residence for the day. First-time Virginian voters must register in person to use an absentee ballot. There is a five-day waiting period between registering and requesting the ballot form.
- West Virginia: Allows absentee voting if you’re out of the county of residence for the day or during the early voting period.
- Wisconsin: Residents must provide a photo ID when requesting an absentee ballot. Note: The state’s voter ID laws have been tied up in court. In July, a federal district judge ruled the state needs to make absentee voting less cumbersome, but the state has appealed. Check with an official elections organization if you have questions.
Meeting deadlines
Voting deadlines vary and only a handful of states — Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, and Utah — allow people to complete an absentee ballot application online. Oregon, Washington, and Colorado do all voting by mail, but require absentee ballot applications to mail the form to an address other than your permanent residence.
Early voting is an option in 37 states, but dates and availability vary. If you’re considering this option, research the regulations for your area.
Just because you may be on contract on November 8 doesn’t mean your vote shouldn’t count. For more information on voting rights, visit the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s website.
