Plan Ahead, Get a Jump on the 2024 Election

The 2020 election had the highest voter turnout of the 21st century. Will this year’s candidates achieve the same level of support when voters go to the polls on Nov. 5?  According to Charles Zelden, a professor of history and politics in NSU’s Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, people will do more than just pick a new president. They’ll shape the future of a nation.

“Harris and Trump offer more than mere policy differences, he said Zelden, who specializes in voting rights, election law, civil rights, and judicial politics. “They each represent distinct and contrasting conceptions of our nation, of its structure, functions, and place in the world. Our choices in this election will determine the future that we get not just for the next four years, but potentially for a generation.”

What can you do to participate in this year’s election? Zelden offers these suggestions.

• Participate. The choices made in this election are important. Let your voice be included in the national dialogue over our future.
• Pick your issues. Think about what’s important to you, perhaps it’s the economy or health care.
• Talk to others. This is a collective choice we’re making.
• Have faith in the democratic process of elections. Accept the outcome with as much grace as you can.

As the election approaches, it’s also important to plan ahead. Check your voter registration status. Consider options for early voting. Doublecheck your polling location because recent weather may have changed where you vote. Understand what forms of voter ID and other documents you may need.  Above all, take advantage of the right to vote.