In the United States, exercising our freedom in the form of voting has gotten easier over the decades.

When offered more opportunities to vote, more rules are added and the process gets more confusing. On a college campus such as Lee, many students call a different state home and in turn have several voting options.

Voting by an absentee ballot
Voting by an absentee ballot is for citizens who with be out of their town or city on Election Day, have a physical disability that prevents them from voting at the polling location or for those who cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

Though the process varies from state to state, an absentee vote will be mailed sometime before the election and will be required to returned via mail before a certain date.

To apply for an absentee ballot, write you state secretary, including your name, address (as registered), ward and precinct (if known), address to which the absentee ballot will be sent and your signature, or find information for each state by visiting http://www.nased.org/membership.htm.

Though most states count absentee ballots prior to or on Election Day, the downside is in some states, these votes are held before being counted up to 10 days after the election.

Switching voter residency
To switch your voter residency, simply fill out a new voter registration form and make sure the option that says “New Registration” is checked. You will then be mailed your voting new voting location.

If you move back to your home state or to a different state after graduating, simply re-register in that state.

Early Voting
Almost half of the states allow early voting to take place up anywhere up to sixty days before the actual election takes place.

For example, Tennessee allows early voting twenty days before the election, the voting closes five days prior to election day. To do so, one must appear in person at either the county election commission office or a satellite voting location opened by the county election commission.

“No excuse” early voting is available for any registered voter for any reason from not being able to make to the poll on a specific day or because of feared lines on Election Day.

For more information about types of voting and each states allowances and regulations, visit http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/absentearly.htm.