Are you 18? You now have the power to do something that citizens of other countries may envy you for, and the ability to do something that politicians will go to every length to get you to do. You can vote.
To vote in any election in Tennessee, you must be a registered voter. Registering to vote is quick, painless, and easy assuming that you will be 18 by the next election date, and are a resident of the state of Tennessee. You have two options. First of all, note that you must be registered 30 days before a given election to participate in that voting process. You can either register in person or by mail. To do it in person in Nashville, go to the Howard School Building, 700 Second Ave. S. They will direct you to the Election Commission office. All you need is a driver’s license (if you do not have one, you can take a birth certificate instead). They will copy your name, address, birth date and social security number onto a form, you sign it, and voila, you are a registered voter in the state of Tennessee. You will be given the option of getting a temporary voter registration card before you leave, and if you wish to show off your new status, then go for it.
If you cannot make it to the Howard School Building, you can go to www.nashville.gov/vote/voter_reg.htm or www.state.tn.us/sos/election/ss-3010.pdf, print out the form, and mail it to the Election Commission office. No printer? Local Kroger locations and select post offices also have the form available. Either way, you will receive your official Tennessee Voter’s Registration card in the mail one to two weeks later. That card will have all of your information on it, and where you will go on election day to vote.
Given this great freedom, it is your responsibility to stay up to date on political issues in your neighborhood, city, state, and country so you can make informed decisions when casting your vote. Pick up a newspaper or newsmagazine as often as you can, or stay here at teenedge.com for more great updates on what’s going on in the world.