Countdown to November 6, 2012: Election Day
By Jenna Fariss, The Palisades at Broadmoor Park Retirement Community, Colorado Springs LIVING WELL Magazine
Our seniors’ votes are more important now than ever. Many senior citizens feel once they reach a certain age, they no longer have an obligation to vote. Making our voice heard is our right and responsibility as American citizens. It is now easier than ever to be able to vote. There are so many options available such as early voting, mail-in voting, and voting at the polls on the actual Election Day.
Early voting for the General Election begins on Monday, Oct. 22 and runs through Friday, Nov. 2. It will be located in three locations. The first one is at the downtown Colorado Springs location at Centennial Hall at 200 S. Cascade Ave. The second location is at the Chapel Hills Mall at 1710 Briargate Blvd., Suite 350. The last location is at the Powers Branch at 5650 Industrial Place. All three of these locations will have specific voting times posted, so please check the listings before going.
A mail-in ballot is what many people like to call an absentee ballot. You can request a mail-in ballot even if you are going to be in El Paso County during the actual election. The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 30. If you want to go downtown and pick-up your ballot at the County Clerk’s Office, you can apply for one up until Nov. 2. You must have your mail-in ballot turned in by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Once you send it in or drop it off, you can verify that the office has received your mail-in ballot by going to the Voter Registration Look-Up Page and looking up your voter record. That way you can ensure that your vote will be counted.
You can also sign-up to be a Permanent Mail-In Voter, which means that any time there is an election within Colorado Springs, you will receive a ballot by mail. Electors may apply to be on the Permanent Mail-In Ballot list by completing an application or sending a letter containing the following information: your printed name, date of birth, residence and mailing address, party affiliation, your signature, and a statement requesting to be added to the Permanent Mail-In Ballot list. If you are a first time mail-in voter, you will need to provide a copy of one of the I.D.s listed above in the mail along with your ballot.
Nov. 6, 2012 is Election Day. All around the country, those 18 years old and up will be hitting the polls and voting. You will get a Voter Information Card that will let you know the polling place at your assigned precinct. It is important that you know your precinct number and polling place location prior to Election Day.
If you would like to verify that you are registered to vote, please visit the following website http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/VoterHome.html. You can also call 719-575-VOTE (8683) to check on your status, change your affiliation, and update your address. When you go to vote, at any location, make sure you bring an identification card with you. There is no need to bring an I.D. card when you are registering to vote. Below is a list of approved forms of I.D.s to bring with you when voting.
- · A valid Colorado driver’s license
- · A valid identification card issued by the Department of Revenue
- · A valid U.S. passport
- · A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government or of this state, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of this state
- · A valid pilot’s license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or other authorized agency of the United States
- · A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector
- · A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector
- · A valid Medicare or Medicaid card
- · A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate
- · Certified documentation of naturalization
- · A valid student identification card with a photograph issued by an institution of higher education in Colorado
Many seniors believe that their vote is less important because they are not a part of the upcoming generation. They feel that their vote will not impact government decisions – local, state, or federal. One 92-year-old man stated that he “does not feel a need to vote anymore. Government is such a mess anyways that one vote is not going to change that.” Others are excited and eager. One Palisades resident stated in her excitement for the General Election that, “we need to look up to the people who are going to be authoritative figures in politics, no matter the party.” Before she votes, she likes to ask herself, “Is the person that I’m going to vote for going to be someone who I can go in and see personally and sit down with them and feel comfortable and see how they feel about any political party?” This is an 82-year-old woman who feels very strongly about older Americans staying active in society and getting out to vote.
Education about voting, the issues, and the candidates is the most important thing that you can do for yourself as a voter in El Paso County. Get passionate about what is going on in this city and country. Realize that you are not just one vote and that your vote does matter. There are currently 387, 477 registered voters in Colorado Springs out of a population of 647,758 people. Every vote in Colorado is counted. It is our right as American citizens to vote, so exercise your right and vote in this year’s upcoming General Election. If you are not registered to vote, here is a copy of the Colorado Voter Registration Form http://car.elpasoco.com/Election/Documents/vr_form_legal.pdf. Please fill it out and sent it in! No matter the age, you need to turn in your ballot, and get your “I Voted!” sticker and wear it with pride!
For information on The Palisades Retirement Community please call 719-226-2273.
