How to Get Your Friends to Vote

Some of your friends may consider themselves too busy to take the time to register or vote. You can take the following steps to guide them through the relatively simple process of preparing to cast a ballot.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Phone Books
• Sample Ballots
• Absentee Ballot Forms
• Postage Stamps
• Voter Registration Forms

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Remind your busy friends of the registration deadline after they have received the form. The deadline is usually one month before an election.
4. 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.
5. Give your friends some stamps so they won't blame a lack of postage for missing registration or absentee ballot deadlines.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that in order to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen. A voter cannot be in prison or on parole for a felony, or be declared mentally incompetent by a court.
• Make your friends aware that registering with a political party is optional and separate from registering to vote. (See Related eHows for further information about political parties.)
• Realize that some people are vehemently apolitical. Concentrate your efforts on those potential voters who are just a bit lazy when it comes to voting.
• Don't start to preach about voting or politics. It will only turn your friends off to the importance of the issues.
• Realize that your friends may not vote for the candidates you are supporting. Remember that even good friends can occasionally disagree about issues.