QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

I TURNED IN A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION. AM I REGISTERED TO VOTE?

Just because you turned in a voter registration application does not necessarily mean you are registered to vote. Once your application has been processed by your local board of registrars, you should receive an acknowledgement from the registrars indicating the status of your application. This acknowledgement will usually be a voter identification card confirming that you are registered to vote. However, if your application was incomplete, you may receive a letter requesting additional information to complete your application. If you are unsure about the status of your application, you can always call your local board of registrars and check.

I TURN 18 AFTER THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE BUT BEFORE THE ELECTION. CAN I VOTE IN THAT ELECTION?

Yes. As long as you turn 18 before an election, even if your birthday is after the voter registration deadline, you can apply for voter registration and participate in that election (as long as you meet other voter qualifications). Please note though that you must turn your voter registration application in before the deadline for registering.

I HAVE MOVED FROM ONE PART OF THE COUNTY TO ANOTHER AND WANT TO VOTE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

You must contact the board of registrars and submit an update to your voter registration record. Remember, the people who represent you depends on where you live. To be sure you are voting on the right candidates, it’s important to be voting in the right precinct.

I HAVE MOVED FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER AND WANT TO VOTE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

When you move across county lines, you must register to vote in your new county. Voter registration does not automatically follow you from one county to another.

IT’S THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION AND I FORGOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE. IS IT TOO LATE?

Yes, it is too late to register to vote for that election. To participate in an election, you must submit your application before registration closes for that election. Registration is closed during the ten days prior to an election.

WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE MARKING MY BALLOT?

If you have not already placed your ballot in the ballot box or electronic voting machine, you may ask a poll worker for another ballot. The poll worker will spoil your first ballot so that it cannot be counted or reused.

ARE CANDIDATES ALLOWED TO CAMPAIGN OUTSIDE MY POLLING PLACE?

Yes, "electioneering" or campaigning is permitted outside of the polling place. However, this activity must not be closer than 30 feet to the entrance of the polling place. If the polling place is within a building, the campaigning must not be closer than 30 feet to the entrance of the building.

MAY A CANDIDATE ASSIST ME IN MARKING MY BALLOT?

Yes. The only people who may not assist a voter are the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union.

MAY I WEAR CAMPAIGN BUTTONS OR TEE SHIRTS WITH POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS INTO THE POLLING PLACE?

Yes. However, the voter should not leave any campaign materials in the polling place.

MAY I CARRY A SAMPLE BALLOT INTO THE VOTING BOOTH?

Yes. However, the voter should not leave the sample ballot in the polling place.

IF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT, MUST I VOTE ON THEM?

No. A voter is not required to vote on constitutional amendments. Similarly, a voter is not required to vote in all contests on the ballot. Participation is the voter’s choice.

IN A PRIMARY ELECTION, AM I ALLOWED TO VOTE ONLY FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS?

Yes. In fact, if you choose to not participate in nominating candidates for either political party, you can request a constitutional amendment ballot that contains only the proposed constitutional amendments.

WHEN I VOTED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION, I WAS ASKED TO DECLARE A POLITICAL PARTY PREFERENCE? WHY IS THAT?

A primary election is part of the nominating process for a political party. It is used to select who will represent a party in the general election. You are required to choose one political party’s primary over another because you cannot participate in the

nomination of both parties’ candidates. However, in the general election, you are able to split your ticket and vote for candidates from each political party.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT WANT TO DECLARE A POLITICAL PARTY PREFERENCE AT THE PRIMARY ELECTION?

If you choose to not declare a political preference at the primary election, you will not be eligible to vote in any political party’s primary election. You would, however, still be eligible to vote on any proposed constitutional amendments that are up for a vote.

I VOTED IN MY POLITICAL PARTY’S PRIMARY ELECTION. MY PARTY IS NOT HAVING A RUNOFF. MAY I VOTE IN THE OTHER PARTY’S RUN-OFF ELECTION?

It depends on the political party. The Democratic Party has a cross-over voting rule which prohibits anyone who voted in the Republican Party primary from voting in the Democratic run-off. The Republican Party does not have a cross-over voting rule. It is okay for voters who participated in the Democratic primary to vote in the Republican run-off. Therefore, if you voted in the Democratic primary, you may vote in either the Democratic run-off or the Republican run-off. If you voted in the Republican primary, you may vote only in the Republican run-off.

MAY I TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOTAPE INSIDE MY POLLING PLACE ?

No. Voters have a right to cast their ballot in secrecy and in private. Photography in the polling place may violate this right. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice has advised that photography or videotaping inside a polling place does not serve any useful purpose and may instead actually intimidate voters exercising their right to vote.