By
eHow Culture & Society Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Phone Books
- Sample Ballots
- Absentee Ballot Forms
- Postage Stamps
- Voter Registration Forms
Step1
Assure your friends that taking the first step, registering to vote, is quick and painless. In most states you can get the registration form at post offices, public libraries, city and county offices, and motor vehicle departments.
Step2
Ask your state's election office to mail the form if your friend doesn't have time to pick it up. The election office phone number is in the government pages of your local phone book.
Step3
Remind your busy friends of the registration deadline after they have received the form. The deadline is usually one month before an election.
Step4
Encourage them to apply for absentee ballots. Absentee ballots can be filled out and mailed during a given time frame before the election, at the voter's convenience. The election office also provides this application, upon request, once a person is registered to vote.
Step5
Give your friends some stamps so they won't blame a lack of postage for missing registration or absentee ballot deadlines.
Step6
Remind your friends of the coming election when you get your sample ballot pamphlet in the mail. If they have registered, they will also have received sample ballots. Tell them that they need to familiarize themselves with the candidates, the issues and the voting format.
Step7
E-mail or call them a few days before the election. If they are still uncommitted, they might ask you for your opinion on the candidates and issues. Be honest and remind them that a lot of issues will affect the future of their children or future children.
Comments
Elfenaura said
on 11/20/2007 Step three - this may vary in different locales. Check to make sure of the deadline as far in advance as you can to make sure your vote is able to be cast and counted.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 With so many people voting, it might seem as though your friends don't think their vote counts. Change their minds!
Anonymous said
on 12/9/2005 The best way to encourage people to vote is provide unbiased, brief information about what they will be voting on. The main excuse given for not voting (other than lack of time) seems to be lack of information. The League of Women Voters provides unbiased, brief write-ups of what will be on the ballot. They list pros and cons of propositions and let the reader to make their own decision.
Anonymous said
on 12/9/2005 Let them know that they can register to vote at a number of websites. All they have to do is fill in the form, print it out, sign it, and mail it in.
Anonymous said
on 12/9/2005 I know that lots of people just don't care enough to turn on the news to learn about the parties and the people representing them, so just give them a few of the main points for each of them.