Emma Horton 
By : Emma Horton
2023 is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time for another election. No matter how old you are, you should learn about upcoming elections and voting. Whether it’s local or state, voting is very important and people should make an effort to remain informed and exercise this right whenever possible.
How and where do you vote?
Although there are many ways to vote, you cannot cast your ballot online. You will usually have a voting place assigned to you and you’re expected to vote there. If you try to vote somewhere other than your location, you may have to fill out a provisional ballot and your vote might not end up counted. If you have a disability, you have the right to vote at an accessible polling place. To register to vote you must meet some requirements. These requirements include being a citizen of the United States of America, being a legal resident of Florida, being at least 18 years old, and not having been convicted of a felony. Voting is simple. Nowadays it’s usually not on paper. You just go to the ballot box and choose who you want to vote for, keeping your decision private during and after voting.
Why Is It Important To Vote?
Article 1 of the Constitution states that members of the Senate and House of Representatives will be elected by popular vote. The President, however, is not elected by a direct vote, but instead by the Electoral College. This method was seen as a good way to balance the popular vote and use representatives in Congress to elect a President. That explains why we vote the way we do, but why should we vote? If you ever thought that just one vote in billions cannot make a difference, you are mistaken. There have been close calls in Presidential elections throughout the years. A single vote can change the course of the whole election. Your vote may not directly elect the next President, but if your vote agrees with enough others, then it definitely matters.
The 2023 Uniform Municipal Elections
One local upcoming election is the 2023 Uniform Municipal Elections. Municipalities are governing bodies where members are elected by voters living in the district. According to pbcelections.org, Election Day for the 2023 Municipal elections is March 14. The deadline to register to vote is February 13. Early voting, which is exactly what it sounds like, is not available at the moment. Regarding polling places, municipalities are in charge of securing the polling places for their elections. The same places can and might be used during a countrywide election. Voters will be notified if voting places are changed, because that can happen.
Do not forget that it is not important whom a person votes for, only that said person voted. Also remember, voting ends in March, so remind your parents and eligible family members that they vote. This is especially true if they want to impact a change!
