<p>I tried to vote in the last election but because I was at school out-of-state I would have had to file an absentee ballot and apparently you can't do that if it's your first election. Is there anyway around this? I would like to vote in the primaries, or am I not allowed to do so as I am not registered yet?</p>
<p>really... I didn't know that.
guess I won't be voting this fall.</p>
<p>why can't you just register?</p>
<p>nvm, I found what I have to do. To register you have to go to the Secretary of State's office and personally hand the forms to them rather than mail them in. It might be only for my state (Michigan) though.</p>
<p>What's the point? Elections are a big sham anyway. Both of the major parties have the same damn constituencies: rich, fat, old, white men, only varying by degree.</p>
<p>Yeah, that must be just for Michigan, b/c I did absentee for NJ and it worked out fine.</p>
<p>that's not true. You can certainly vote absentee for your first election.</p>
<p>It is true in my state:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Absentee Ballots
Absentee voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters with a convenient method for casting a ballot when they are unable to attend the polls on Election Day.</p>
<p>As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee voter ballot if you are:</p>
<pre><code>* age 60 years old or older
* unable to vote without assistance at the polls
* expecting to be out of town on election day
* in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
* unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
* appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
</code></pre>
<p>A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older. (Voting in person on one governmental level clears the restriction on the other levels. For example, if a voter subject to the restriction votes in person at a school election, the voter would be free to obtain an absentee ballot for the first state election in which he or she wishes to participate.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>wow, sorry. I thought these things were totally federally regulated. I guess not.</p>
<p>Doesn't matter, I don't see the point in voting anyways.</p>
<p>Elections are governed entirely by the state in which they are held. Aside from the the four voting rights amendments and the various SCOTUS rulings on the issue, the federal government hasn't gotten very involved (yet).</p>
<p>If you have questions about how things are done in your own state, visit <a href="http://www.vote-smart.org/voter_registration_resources.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.vote-smart.org/voter_registration_resources.php</a></p>
<p>This is obviously a conspiracy to disenfranchise college students. No wonder our Presidents are always old people!</p>
<p>Well, that and that pesky little Article II. :) None of us traditional-aged collegians will be running any time soon, thank God!</p>