I Voted!


 [No trigger warning required: this is a non-partisan post.]


Election Day 2024 is Tuesday, November 5th. This date is a crucial Federal Election; State and Local elections are also on the ballot. This is the 60th quadrennial presidential election in the USA.


Record numbers of voters are flocking to the polls. We voted early to avoid the rush, but even at our rural polling place, we waited an hour. Many locations nationwide have already seen record-breaking queues.


The first step is to ensure you are registered to vote. No further steps are needed if you have not changed your name, address, or previously voted. However, if you have changed your name or moved within your state, you must update your registration. If you have moved to another state, you need to re-register.


Even if you have not made any of these changes, it is worth checking that you are still on the roll, as states are cleaning up their databases: ascertain that you have not been inadvertently removed. In addition, registration deadlines and processes vary from state to state: check now to be sure you are registered (see the link in the paragraph above).


Voting options: Absentee ballot, vote-by-mail, vote in-person [early or on Election Day.] Choose the option which is most appropriate for you.


Some states have specific requirements, i.e., disability to use the absentee ballot option, others have none.


Before retiring from my profession as a trauma surgeon, I elected to vote-by-mail since I had no control over my ability to leave the hospital or operating room to vote at a specified time or date.


Special requirements apply for US citizens who reside abroad and military voters.


You can vote early, beginning Thursday, October 17, 2024, until 3 pm Saturday, November 2, 2024. Check your county of residence for early voting locations. Voting early ensures your voice is heard in the event of some unforetold circumstance.


Election Day poll hours vary by state. Ballotpedia permits you to find both the poll hours and polling locations for where you live. Go to your state, then polling locations. Type in your residential address and submit. It will also tell you your local county Board of Elections contact information.


Have you voted yet? Are you unsure of your state requirements, dates, locations, etc? Check today because there is high variability from state to state. Hopefully, you can still meet the deadlines and VOTE! Perform your civic duty as a free citizen of the constitutional republic of the United States of America.

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